Diplomacy
Swiss Foreign Minister Visits North Korea as Diplomatic Office Reopens
Euro News · 4 hours ago · Read the Full Story on Euro News
AI SUMMARY
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis visited North Korea during the formal reopening of Switzerland's diplomatic office in Pyongyang, marking the first such visit since 2003.
- Ignazio Cassis became the first Swiss foreign minister to visit North Korea since 2003, traveling to Pyongyang on 29 and 30 October.
- Switzerland formally reopened its diplomatic office in North Korea on 19 October, operating under the Swiss embassy in Beijing.
- Switzerland's previous office in Pyongyang handled humanitarian cooperation and closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- During his visit, Cassis met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and Jo Yong Won, secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Committee.
- Cassis offered Switzerland's help in facilitating dialogue to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
- Cassis traveled to Seoul on 30 and 31 October, meeting National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac and senior foreign ministry official Jeong Yeon-du.
- South Korea expressed hope that the Swiss office would help facilitate engagement with North Korea.
- North Korea recently fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles towards the sea amid renewed military tensions.
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