what countries have embassies in north korea
North Korea currently hosts a small number of foreign embassies in Pyongyang, plus a few consulates, while many other countries cover North Korea from embassies in nearby capitals like Beijing or Seoul.
Countries with embassies in North Korea (Pyongyang)
Most recent open-source lists converge on roughly two dozen states maintaining resident embassies in Pyongyang. These are commonly listed as:
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- China
- Cuba
- Czech Republic
- Egypt
- Germany
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Laos
- Mongolia
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Poland
- Romania
- Russia
- Sweden
- Syria
- United Kingdom
- Vietnam
- Venezuela (noted as the most recent to open a mission)
These are all described as having resident embassies in Pyongyang, though temporary closures or staff withdrawals have happened at times, especially during the pandemic and extended border closures.
Non‑resident embassies accredited to North Korea
Many countries choose to accredit their ambassador to North Korea from another capital instead of opening an embassy in Pyongyang.
Common patterns include:
- Ambassador resident in Seoul but also accredited to North Korea (e.g., Australia, Austria, Canada, several EU states).
- Ambassador resident in Beijing or Tokyo , covering North Korea from there.
These non‑resident embassies are officially responsible for relations with North Korea but do not have a physical embassy inside the country itself.
Consulates and special offices
Beyond embassies in Pyongyang, a few additional diplomatic presences exist:
- Chinese Consulate-General in Chongjin , in northeastern North Korea.
- Russian Consulate in Chongjin is also reported in some diplomatic mappings.
- Switzerland and Italy have at times maintained representative or cooperation offices in Pyongyang rather than full embassies.
- France has a Cooperation and Cultural Action Office in Pyongyang, despite not having full diplomatic relations.
These offices often focus on humanitarian, cultural, or limited political engagement.
Mini table: Resident vs non‑resident
| Type | Where based | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Resident embassies in Pyongyang | Inside North Korea | China, Russia, Sweden, UK, Brazil, Iran, India, Vietnam | [1][3][7]
| Non‑resident embassies | Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo, others | Australia, Austria, Canada, several EU states, UAE | [9]
| Other offices | Pyongyang / Chongjin | China and Russia consulates in Chongjin; French cultural office; Swiss/Italian reps | [6][7]
Important note and “latest news” angle
- The exact list can change when countries temporarily close or downsize, especially due to security concerns, sanctions pressure, or health restrictions.
- Several embassies shut or suspended operations during the strict COVID‑era border closures, and not all have clearly and fully re‑opened with normal staffing.
If you need this for travel or consular protection, it’s best to double‑check with your own foreign ministry or its latest travel advisory, since those will reflect any very recent changes beyond open‑source lists.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.