Switzerland has formally reopened its diplomatic office in North Korea, ending a five-year hiatus that began during the global pandemic. The move coincides with a two-day visit by Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, who held high-level talks in Pyongyang to discuss normalizing political relations between the two nations.
Cassis, who also serves as Switzerland’s vice president, concluded his visit on Friday. He described the reopening as a “new chapter” for his country’s presence in the capital. On social media platform X, he stated that the initiative represents a concrete step toward strengthening direct dialogue with North Korean authorities.
Restoring Political Dialogue
The diplomatic office, which became operational on October 19, will not be headed by an ambassador. Instead, it reports directly to the Swiss embassy in Beijing, which currently manages diplomatic and consular affairs with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The facility had been closed in March 2020 as travel restrictions tightened worldwide.
During his stay, Cassis met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and Jo Yong Won, a secretary of the Central Committee of the ruling Korean Workers’ Party. According to Cassis, the discussions covered the regularisation of political relations and the reestablishment of a political dialogue. He also noted that the parties exchanged views on security challenges on the Korean Peninsula and broader Eurasian security issues.
The Swiss Foreign Ministry emphasized that the office is designed to strengthen direct contacts with DPRK authorities. This development aligns with Bern’s stated intention to maintain its commitment to the region despite heightened tensions and limited international engagement with Pyongyang.
A Historic Visit and Regional Context
This trip marks the first visit by a Swiss government minister to North Korea in more than two decades. The last Federal Council member to travel to the country was then-Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey in 2003. North Korea’s state news agency, KCNA, confirmed Cassis’s arrival on Thursday but provided no further details regarding the purpose of the visit or whether he met with leader Kim Jong Un. No reports of such a meeting have emerged.
Switzerland’s involvement in the Korean Peninsula spans more than 70 years, including its historical role on the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission. As one of the few Western nations to maintain a dialogue with Pyongyang, Switzerland has positioned itself as a potential intermediary in regional security matters.
Following his time in the North, Cassis crossed into South Korea on Friday for the final leg of his regional tour. The Swiss foreign ministry indicated that his talks in Seoul will focus on peninsula security, prospects for easing regional tensions, and bilateral ties. The visit also coincides with a trip by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who visited the inter-Korean border and expressed hope for eventual national unity on the peninsula.
Source: Al Jazeera
