From the founding principles of juche self-sufficient ideology to the 2020 COVID-19 border shutdown, North Korea's reputation as a strictly isolated nation isn't unfounded. However, it may come as a surprise to the general public to learn that North Korea maintains diplomatic and economic ties with several nations, having established embassies in 46 countries across Africa, Europe, South America, and Asia. Pyongyang is also host to eight diplomatic missions, six of which are embassies.
Since 2021, the National Committee on North Korea and the East-West Center in Washington (EWC) have collaborated on the "North Korea in the World" webinar project to combat the misconception that North Korea's influence is limited to the confines of its borders. Through several well-attended webinars and a special article series featured in EWC's Asia Pacific Bulletin, the program aims to make substantive information about North Korea’s external relations - spanning diplomatic, economic and security issues - accessible to the general public. This program is both based on and bolstered by NCNK and EWC's eponymous joint website venture, www.northkoreaintheworld.org, which provides a broad history of North Korea's relationships with other countries.
"Walking the 38th Parallel: Europe at a Crossroads"
Balancing Diplomatic Priorities Across Multiple Interests: North Korea and Europe Relations
DATE: May 25, 2022
FEATURED SPEAKERS: Dr. Ramon Pacheco Pardo & Dr. Tereza Novotná
Watch the webinar on NCNK's YouTube channel HERE and read Dr. Novotná's accompanying piece "What North Korea Has Been Learning from Russia's Invasion of Ukraine" in the Asia Pacific Bulletin HERE.
European-DPRK Track II Engagement: Facilitating Dialogue and Diplomacy
DATE: June 14, 2022
FEATURED SPEAKER: Glyn Ford
Watch the webinar on NCNK's YouTube channel HERE and read Glyn Ford's accompanying piece "From Coy to Cold Shoulder - The European Union and North Korea" in the Asia Pacific Bulletin HERE.
DPRK's Europe Ambassador: Kim Pyong-il and DPRK Diplomacy in Europe
DATE: July 19. 2022
FEATURED SPEAKER: Dr. Nicolas Levi
Watch the webinar on NCNK's YouTube channel HERE.
DPRK-United Kingdom Relations: An Ambassador's Perspective of Diplomacy with Pyongyang
DATE: September 6, 2022
FEATURED SPEAKER: Amb. Alastair Morgan
Watch the webinar on NCNK's YouTube channel HERE and read Amb. Morgan's accompanying piece "United Kingdom Engagement with North Korea" in the Asia Pacific Bulletin HERE.
DPRK-Germany Relations: An Ambassador's Perspective of Diplomacy with Pyongyang
DATE: September 28, 2022
FEATURED SPEAKER: Amb. Thomas Schaefer
Watch the webinar on NCNK's YouTube channel HERE and read Amb. Morgan's accompanying piece "North Korea-Germany Relations: An Ambassador's Perspective of Diplomacy with Pyongyang" in the Asia Pacific Bulletin HERE.
Fair-Weather Friends: Moscow-Pyongyang Relations Through the Years
DATE: November 2, 2022
FEATURED SPEAKER: Anthony Rinna
Watch the webinar on NCNK's YouTube channel HERE and read Anthony Rinna's accompanying piece "Two Peripheries: The Ukraine War's Effect on North Korea-Russia Relations" in the Asia Pacific Bulletin HERE.