The U.S. State Department recently confirmed that Swedish diplomats who returned to Pyongyang are resuming their role in protecting U.S. interests. It expressed concern about signs of expanding security ties between North Korea and Russia. Reporter Ham Ji-ha reports.
“Sweden will continue to serve as a protector of our interests in North Korea,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
A State Department spokesperson gave this answer in a briefing on the 16th when asked, “Has Sweden, which has returned to Pyongyang, resumed its role as a protector of U.S. interests?”
[녹취: 밀러 대변인] “Sweden does continue to be our protective power in the DPRK. We support the return of foreign diplomats to Pyongyang and hope that it will reinvigorate dialogue, diplomacy, and other forms of constructive engagement with the DPRK. We also hope that the DPRK will open its borders to international humanitarian workers whose aid efforts have been hindered by the DPRK’s border closures.”
He continued, “We support the return of diplomats from other countries to Pyongyang, and hope that this will revitalize dialogue, diplomacy, and other forms of constructive engagement with North Korea.”
“We also hope that North Korea will open its borders to international humanitarian workers who are having difficulties providing aid due to North Korea’s border closures,” Miller added.
Earlier, the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a press release on the 13th that Swedish diplomats began residing in Pyongyang from that day.
Sweden, which has no diplomatic relations with North Korea and has been providing limited consular services, including access to American detainees, is interpreted to have resumed this role with the return.
Sweden was the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with North Korea, in 1973.
Sweden, which opened an embassy in Pyongyang in 1975, two years later, withdrew its diplomats from North Korea in August 2020, early in the coronavirus outbreak.
Meanwhile, when asked whether the recent meeting between North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un and Russian State Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu would lead to an expansion of security cooperation between the two countries, Spokesperson Miller responded, “We are very concerned about the expansion of security relations between North Korea and Russia.”
[녹취: 밀러 대변인] “We continue to be incredibly concerned by the expanding security relationship between North Korea and Russia, both for the support that North Korea continues to provide to Russia to prosecute its illegal war against Ukraine and for the prospect of Russia assisting ways assisting North Korea in ways that ultimately will be destabilizing to the Korean Peninsula.”
He explained, “This is because North Korea continues to support Russia in its illegal war against Ukraine, and because there is a prospect that Russia will ultimately support North Korea in a way that will destabilize the Korean Peninsula.”
According to North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency and other sources, Secretary Shoigu met with Chairman Kim on the 13th. Their meeting took place on the first anniversary of the summit between Chairman Kim and President Putin.
The Russian State Security Council said that Secretary Shoigu and Chairman Kim discussed a wide range of issues during their meeting, and assessed that the meeting would make an important contribution to implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement signed between North Korea and Russia in June.
This is Ham Ji-ha from VOA News.
– What are the implications of Sweden’s role in protecting U.S. interests in North Korea?
Table of Contents
U.S. State Department Confirms Sweden’s Resumption of Role in Protecting U.S. Interests in North Korea
In a recent briefing, the U.S. State Department confirmed that Sweden has resumed its role in protecting U.S. interests in North Korea, following the return of Swedish diplomats to Pyongyang. This development comes as the international community continues to express concern over signs of expanding security ties between North Korea and Russia.
Sweden Resumes Role as Protector of U.S. Interests
According to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, “Sweden will continue to serve as a protector of our interests in North Korea.” This statement was made in response to a question about whether Sweden, which has returned to Pyongyang, has resumed its role as a protector of U.S. interests. The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier announced that Swedish diplomats began residing in Pyongyang on the 13th of this month.
U.S. Hopes for Revitalized Dialogue and Humanitarian Aid
The U.S. State Department expressed hope that the return of foreign diplomats to Pyongyang will reinvigorate dialogue, diplomacy, and other forms of constructive engagement with North Korea. Furthermore, the U.S. hopes that North Korea will open its borders to international humanitarian workers whose aid efforts have been hindered by the country’s border closures.
Concerns over North Korea-Russia Security Ties
When asked about the recent meeting between North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un and Russian State Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, Spokesperson Miller expressed concern over the expansion of security relations between the two countries. The U.S. is worried about the support that North Korea continues to provide to Russia in its illegal war against Ukraine, as well as the prospect of Russia assisting North Korea in ways that could destabilize the Korean Peninsula.
Historical Context: Sweden-North Korea Relations
Sweden was the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with North Korea in 1973, and it opened an embassy in Pyongyang in 1975. However, Sweden withdrew its diplomats from North Korea in August 2020, early in the coronavirus outbreak. With the return of Swedish diplomats, Sweden has resumed its role in providing limited consular services, including access to American detainees.
Implications for International Relations
The resumption of Sweden’s role in protecting U.S. interests in North Korea is significant, as it could lead to increased diplomatic engagement and humanitarian aid to the region. However, the growing security ties between North Korea and Russia are a cause for concern, as they could destabilize the Korean Peninsula and have broader implications for international relations.
Key Takeaways
The U.S. State Department has confirmed that Sweden has resumed its role in protecting U.S. interests in North Korea.
Sweden’s return to Pyongyang is seen as a positive development, with the potential to revitalize dialogue, diplomacy, and humanitarian aid.
The U.S. is concerned about the expanding security relations between North Korea and Russia, which could destabilize the Korean Peninsula.
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How is Sweden’s role as a protector of US interests in North Korea expected to impact diplomatic relations?
Sweden Resumes Role as Protector of US Interests in North Korea Amid Concerns of Expanding Security Ties with Russia
In a significant development, the United States Department of State has confirmed that Swedish diplomats who returned to Pyongyang will continue to protect American interests in North Korea. This move comes amid growing concerns about the expanding security ties between North Korea and Russia.
According to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, “Sweden does continue to be our protective power in the DPRK. We support the return of foreign diplomats to Pyongyang and hope that it will reinvigorate dialogue, diplomacy, and other forms of constructive engagement with the DPRK.” Miller added that the US hopes North Korea will open its borders to international humanitarian workers whose aid efforts have been hindered by the country’s border closures.
Sweden, which has no diplomatic relations with North Korea, has been providing limited consular services, including access to American detainees. The country was the first Western nation to establish diplomatic relations with North Korea in 1973 and opened an embassy in Pyongyang two years later. However, Sweden withdrew its diplomats from North Korea in August 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The return of Swedish diplomats to Pyongyang is seen as a significant step towards resuming their role as a protector of US interests in North Korea. The move is also expected to revitalize dialogue, diplomacy, and other forms of constructive engagement with the reclusive nation.
Meanwhile, the US has expressed concerns about the expanding security relationship between North Korea and Russia. When asked about the recent meeting between North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un and Russian State Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, Miller responded, “We are very concerned about the expansion of security relations between North Korea and Russia.”
The US is worried about North Korea’s support for Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine and the prospect of Russia assisting North Korea in ways that could destabilize the Korean Peninsula. The meeting between Shoigu and Kim, which took place on the first anniversary of their summit with Russian President Putin, has raised eyebrows in Washington.
The Russian State Security Council said that Shoigu and Kim discussed a wide range of issues during their meeting, including ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The meeting has sparked concerns that North Korea and Russia may be planning to expand their security ties, which could have far-reaching implications for regional stability.
The US has been vocal about its concerns over North Korea’s nuclear program and its human rights record. The country’s continued support for Russia’s war in Ukraine has only added to the tensions between Washington and Pyongyang.
As the US looks to Sweden to play a more active role in protecting American interests in North Korea, the move is being seen as a positive step towards improving relations between the US and North Korea. However, the expanding security ties between North Korea and Russia remain a significant concern for the US and its allies in the region.
Keyword Index:
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US Interests
North Korea
Russia
Security Ties
Diplomacy
Humanitarian Aid
Korean Peninsula
Nuclear Program
Human Rights
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* Nuclear Program and Human Rights in North Korea
