European countries eye reopening embassies in North Korea after pandemic closures
A German delegation visited the North Korean capital of Pyongyang for the first time since its embassy was shuttered during the pandemic, as other European countries prepare for an anticipated return.
A team from the German Federal Foreign Office was currently in Pyongyang on a technical inspection trip, a foreign office spokesperson told Reuters.
"It is inspecting the site of the German embassy over a couple of days," the spokesperson said, noting there was still no decision on reopening the embassy, which was closed in March 2020.
Many embassies closed in Pyongyang because they were unable to rotate staff or ship supplies during the COVID-19 crisis.
Already under authoritarian control, North Korea imposed some of the world's strictest pandemic measures, including near-total travel bans and large-scale border walls, and has only recently begun easing international restrictions.
Britain, which closed its embassy and pulled all diplomatic staff from North Korea in May 2020, was also seeking to send a team, a Foreign Office spokesperson told Reuters.
"We are pleased that some diplomats are returning to Pyongyang and welcome DPRK moves to reopen the border," the spokesperson said, using the initials of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"We are in discussions with the DPRK government through its Embassy in London about arrangements for a visit soon by a UK technical-diplomatic team."
Britain called on North Korea to allow the international community, including all diplomats and UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs, to enter the country, the spokesperson added.
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