Nigeria has reopened its embassy in North Korea after a prolonged closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming one of several countries resuming diplomatic activities in the isolated nation.
The announcement was made by Patrick Imodu Imologhome, Nigeria’s charge d’affaires, during a meeting in Pyongyang with the Russian Ambassador to North Korea, Alexandr Matsegora.
This diplomatic reopening follows a period of disrupted relations, with countries like Russia and China maintaining limited operations in North Korea during the pandemic.
The embassy’s reopening marks a significant step for Nigeria in re-establishing its presence in North Korea, which had been suspended since the outbreak of the global pandemic.
According to reports, Imologhome, who had recently arrived in North Korea, shared the news of the reopening, though the Nigerian Embassy did not provide further specifics about the restoration process.
However, it is understood that the primary aim of this move is to resume diplomatic engagements with North Korean authorities.
Since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, North Korea had sealed its borders, compelling foreign diplomats and workers from international organisations to evacuate.
The country, which has a policy of strict isolation, had even required foreign embassies to reduce their staff or cease operations entirely.
In August 2023, North Korea gradually began reopening its borders to foreign diplomats and international visitors, allowing countries to resume or restore their diplomatic missions.
Nigeria’s diplomatic ties with North Korea were established in 1976, and the two countries have maintained relations over the years, albeit under challenging circumstances.
However, reports from a United Nations panel of experts have indicated that North Korea may have engaged in illicit trade with Nigeria, possibly violating UN sanctions imposed on the North. These sanctions are meant to curb North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes.
The reopening of the Nigerian embassy is also a part of a broader trend of countries returning to Pyongyang to re-establish diplomatic operations. Russia, Cuba, and China were among the countries that continued limited diplomatic operations during the pandemic by leaving a skeletal staff in Pyongyang.
In addition, other countries like Sweden, Poland, Brazil, and Iran have recently re-opened their embassies in North Korea after pulling out during the height of the pandemic.
Sweden was the first Western nation to restore its embassy in Pyongyang in September, with other countries like Poland and Brazil following suit in the months that followed.
Nigeria’s decision to reopen its embassy in North Korea further highlights the growing trend of countries seeking to revive their diplomatic presence in the country, despite the long-standing challenges posed by its isolationist policies.
Of the African nations, Nigeria and Egypt are the only two to maintain a diplomatic presence in North Korea. This is significant, given the importance of diplomatic relations in fostering international cooperation, particularly in the face of global challenges such as the pandemic.
The reopening of Nigeria's embassy could also signal a potential shift in the way the international community engages with North Korea, especially as the country emerges from its isolation.
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