2024 Global Diplomacy Index Report by Lowy Institute
Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported on the 27th that North Korea’s diplomatic power has significantly decreased as it has been continuously closing overseas diplomatic offices since last year.
According to the 2024 Global Diplomacy Index report released on the 25th by the Australian Diplomacy and Security Research Institute, Lowy Institute, North Korea ranked 58th in diplomatic power this year, possessing 43 diplomatic offices such as embassies and consulates.
The Lowy Institute evaluated each country’s diplomatic power based on an analysis of the embassies, consulates, and permanent diplomatic offices of 66 countries worldwide, including G20 (major 20 countries) and OECD member countries.
North Korea was found to have 43 diplomatic offices, including 39 embassies and high-level representative offices, 1 consulate general and consulate, and 3 permanent diplomatic offices, which is 10 less than last year. The ranking also fell by 6 places from 52nd from the previous year.
The report stated, “Reflecting the deepening isolation, North Korea has closed 10 overseas offices. It is the third country to do so after Afghanistan, which closed 19 offices, and Sudan, which closed 14.”
North Korea has been closing its overseas offices in Spain, Hong Kong, Senegal, and Angola since last year.
In response, North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in November last year, “By the changing international environment and diplomatic policy, we are pushing to withdraw and establish new diplomatic missions abroad. However, most analysts say North Korea, suffering from financial difficulties, is closing and shutting down unprofitable diplomatic offices.
Ko Young Hwan, a special assistant to the Minister of Unification of Korea, who worked as a first secretary at the North Korean embassy in Congo and defected to Korea, said, “Many of North Korea’s overseas offices exploit diplomatic immunity and diplomatic pouches to smuggle cigarettes and whiskey. There have also been cases where the office’s operating costs are self-funded through illegal trades and manipulation of the law. However, as North Korea’s nuclear development and missile provocations have strengthened international sanctions against North Korea, most of these illegal foreign currency earning activities have been blocked.”
According to this report, China ranked first in the world for the second year in a row with 274 diplomatic offices. The United States ranked second with 271, and Turkey recorded third with 252. Japan is in fourth place with 251, and South Korea maintained its 13th place without any change from last year with 187.
yeh25@news1.kr