Nigeria has reopened its embassy in Pyongyang, North Korea, after it had been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
With the embassy’s reopening, Nigeria becomes the second African country, after Egypt, to maintain diplomatic representation in North Korea.
While the embassy was closed, diplomatic ties between Nigeria and North Korea continued through Nigeria’s mission in Abuja.
Patrick Imodu Imologhome, Nigeria’s charge d’affaires, revealed plans for the embassy’s reopening during a meeting last Wednesday in Pyongyang with Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexandr Matsegora.
The Russian Embassy in Pyongyang shared this update on its Facebook account the following Thursday.
Imologhome, who had just arrived in North Korea, discussed the plans for reopening the Nigerian Embassy after a prolonged closure due to the pandemic.
In early December, Russia’s embassy in Pyongyang also reported that representatives from various diplomatic missions, including Nigeria and India, attended an event marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Nigeria and North Korea have maintained diplomatic relations since 1976, despite the closure of Nigeria’s embassy.
Reports indicate that North Korea’s ambassador to Nigeria, Jon Tong Chol, remained in Abuja throughout the pandemic. Since his appointment in 2018, Ambassador Jon has engaged in diplomatic exchanges with Nigeria, although the specifics of these discussions have not been made public.
North Korea had closed its borders in early 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the withdrawal of foreign diplomats and international workers from the country. However, in August 2023, North Korea began reopening its border.
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Currently, Nigeria and Egypt are the only African nations with a diplomatic presence in North Korea. Despite the pandemic, eight countries, including China, Laos, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cuba, Russia, Syria, and Egypt, continued limited diplomatic operations in Pyongyang by leaving some embassy staff behind, according to South Korea’s unification ministry.
Only Nigeria and Egypt have diplomatic presence in North Korea out of all other African countries.
Eight countries including China, Laos, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cuba, Russia, Syria, and Egypt had been running their diplomatic missions in Pyongyang in a limited manner even amid the pandemic by leaving some embassy staff behind, according to South Korea’s unification ministry.
