 | |
 United Kingdom |  North Korea |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of the United Kingdom, Pyongyang | Embassy of North Korea, London |
| Envoy | |
| AmbassadorSimon Wood | AmbassadorChoi Il |
North Korea–United Kingdom Relations (Korean: 영국-조선민주주의인민공화국 관계) are the foreign andbilateral relations betweenNorth Korea and theUnited Kingdom.
North Koreahas an embassy inLondon and the United Kingdomhas an embassy inPyongyang which opened in 2003 and 2001 respectively after diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 2000.
During theKorean War the two countries were on opposing sides with the UK overseeing theBritish Commonwealth Forces Korea serving theUnited Nations (UN). Later during theCold War the United Kingdom was a strong ally of theUnited States while North Korea was an ally of theSoviet Union.
TheNorth Korea national football team played in the1966 FIFA World Cup inEngland. The UK government did not recognise North Korea and feared that its presence would strain relations with South Korea and the United States.FIFA told England'sFootball Association that the tournament would be moved if any qualified team were to be refused entry. On the suggestion of the BritishForeign Office, the playing of national anthems, and meetings between players and state figures such as QueenElizabeth II, would only take place in two games: the opener and thefinal. North Korea was not scheduled for the former, and was considered unlikely to reach the latter. A Foreign Office suggestion for flags outside stadiums to be removed after each team's elimination, in the expectation of an early North Korean exit, was vetoed by theDepartment of Education and Science. The Foreign Office apologised to the South Korean ambassador for the flying of North Korean flags at stadiums.[1][2]
North Korea's team became the adopted team ofMiddlesbrough which was where they played their group games during the competition. North Korea's team had a remarkable victory by beatingItaly 1–0 atAyresome Park,Middlesbrough and finished above them, thus earning qualification to the next round.Middlesbrough fans went on to support North Korea's team in the next round of the tournament, with many travelling toLiverpool to watch the team play against Portugal. In 2002, members of North Korea team returned to Middlesbrough for an official visit, after the release of a filmThe Game of Their Lives about the team's visit in 1966.[3]
Following initial progress inNorth Korea–South Korea relations, North Korea and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations on 12 December 2000, opening resident embassies in London and Pyongyang. The United Kingdom provides English language and human rights training to DPRK officials, urging the North Korean government to allow a visit by the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, and it oversees bilateral humanitarian projects in North Korea.[4][5]
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An edited version of the British filmBend It Like Beckham was broadcast on North Korean state television on 26 December 2010. The broadcast was organised by the British embassy and commemorated ten years of relations between the two countries. TheBritish Ambassador to South Korea,Martin Uden, said it was the "first ever Western made film to air on television" in North Korea.[6]
The United Kingdom has been critical of thenuclear program of North Korea.[7]
On 5 April 2013, the North Korean government advised the British Embassy, and all other missions, that the safety of their missions could not be assured past 10 April 2013. This was part of the North Korean government's response toUN Resolution 2094 and deterioration of North Korean relations withSouth Korea and theUnited States.[8]
In August 2016, the Deputy Ambassador of North Korea to the United Kingdom,Thae Yong-ho, defected to South Korea with the assistance of BritishSIS officials.[9] AmbassadorHyon Hak-bong was soon summoned after that incident.
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