Embassy of Sweden, Pyongyang
Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang
Map
LocationMunsudong 3
Taedonggang District
Pyongyang
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
AddressUD/Ambassaden Pyongyang
103 35 Stockholm
Sweden
Coordinates39.02, 125.79
AmbassadorAndreas Bengtsson
Websitehttps://www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/north-korea-pyongyang

The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang is Sweden's diplomatic mission in North Korea, which is located in the country's capital Pyongyang. The Swedish Embassy was one of the first embassies in North Korea, opening in 1975. The ambassador since July 2021 is Andreas Bengtsson. Until 2001, Sweden was the only Western country with uninterrupted diplomatic representation in the city. The Swedish embassy serves as the protecting power for the United States and as consular representation for Australia, Canada, Italy, Latvia,[1] Iceland and Finland.

History

See also: Sweden-North Korea relations

The embassy was opened in 1975 and the first ambassador with the title chargé d'affaires was Erik Cornell (1975–1977).[2] The Swedish embassy in Pyongyang is today co-located with the French, British embassy and the German embassy in the former embassy building for East Germany. On September 16, 2010, Barbro Elm handed over her letter of credence to North Korean President Kim Yong-nam.[3] She was the only embassador from a Western country until 2001.[4]

On 9 December 2010, the Government Offices announced that the embassy was in danger of being closed down due to the cuts to be made to the Government Offices' costs.[5] On 26 April 2012, Karl-Olof Andersson, current Rector of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' diplomatic program and secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Admissions Committee, was appointed new ambassador in the autumn of 2012.[6] On 2 October 2012, Andersson handed over his credentials to Kim Yong-nam in a ceremony that took place in the Mansudae Congress Hall.[7]

In 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the diplomats were withdrawn temporarily. The embassy remained open and is staffed by local employees.[8]

Heads of Mission

Main article: Ambassador of Sweden to North Korea

See also

References

  1. ^ "Korejas Tautas Demokrātiskā Republika | Ārlietu ministrija". www.mfa.gov.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  2. ^ Hajek, Danny (December 4, 2017). "How 1,000 Volvos Ended Up In North Korea — And Made A Diplomatic Difference". NPR. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  3. ^ "Sveriges ambassadör träffar Nordkoreas statschef" (in Swedish). Utrikesdepartementet. October 30, 2010. Archived from the original on October 27, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
  4. ^ Roden, Lee (March 16, 2018). "What exactly is Sweden doing in North Korea?". The Local. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  5. ^ Munck, Anders (December 9, 2010). "Regeringen nedröstad" [The government voted down]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  6. ^ "Ny ambassadör till Nordkorea och ny chef för Sveriges delegation i OSSE" [New ambassador to North Korea and new head of Sweden's delegation to the OSCE] (in Swedish). Ministry of Foreign Affairs. April 26, 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-06-06. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  7. ^ "Sweden's new ambassador meets with North Korea's head of state". Swedish Embassy of Pyongyang. December 6, 2012. Archived from the original on 2013-05-23. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  8. ^ "Sweden temporarily pulls its diplomats out of North Korea". Reuters. August 18, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2021.

External links

Diplomatic missions of Sweden
Diplomatic missions in North Korea
North Korea–United States relations
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