Is North Korea Reaching Out to Switzerland, Where Kim Jong Un Studied?

[Anchor]

We will discuss more North Korea-related stories with reporter Kim Ayeong.

Reporter Kim, is there a sign that North Korea and Switzerland are growing closer?

[Reporter]

Switzerland, a neutral nation, is also the country where General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jong Un and Vice Department Director Kim Yo Jong, brother and sister, studied abroad.

A Swiss diplomatic office opened in Pyongyang and began operations last month.

Switzerland originally operated what was called a humanitarian cooperation office, not a diplomatic office.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when foreign diplomatic missions in North Korea withdrew their personnel, this office also effectively suspended operations.

However, this time, they upgraded the channel and opened an office that will serve as a quasi-diplomatic mission.

Switzerland's operation of a diplomatic office is likely the result of North Korea's acceptance as well.

This appears to be because Switzerland's value has increased from North Korea's perspective.

Currently, relations between North Korea and European nations can be described as almost at their worst since the Russia-Ukraine war.

Ties with the United Kingdom have also soured.

When the UK listed a North Korean camp facility as being involved in the forced transfer and indoctrination of Ukrainian children, North Korea retaliated by recalling its ambassador.

In addition, Sweden, which had been relatively close to North Korea in Europe, joined NATO, making relations somewhat awkward for North Korea as it has grown closer to Russia.

It appears possible to interpret this as North Korea choosing Switzerland as a diplomatic breakthrough.

[Anchor]

Meanwhile, didn't the Swiss foreign minister visit Seoul after traveling to Pyongyang?

[Reporter]

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis recently visited Pyongyang and Seoul in succession.

Minister Cassis visited North Korea on October 29 and 30 to attend the opening ceremony of the diplomatic office.

In North Korea, he met and held talks with Secretary Jo Yong-won and Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, and immediately came to Seoul to meet with National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac and Vice Foreign Minister for Strategy and Intelligence Jeong Yeon-doo.

It is understood that some outcomes of the visit to North Korea were shared.

North Korea reportedly maintained a firm stance that inter-Korean relations are those of "two hostile states."

In May, the Singaporean foreign minister visited Pyongyang and Seoul in the same manner.

At that time as well, he reportedly told South Korea to the effect that he personally sensed on the ground the "two hostile states" doctrine claimed by North Korea.

In other words, North Korea is spreading its "two hostile states" doctrine internationally as well, and the icy atmosphere in inter-Korean relations shows little sign of easing.

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