Switzerland restores diplomatic presence in North Korea: first foreign minister visit since 2003

First visit since 2003 and a reopened office

Switzerland has formally resumed the work of its diplomatic office in Pyongyang, and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has become the first Swiss foreign minister to visit North Korea since 2003. Cassis was in Pyongyang on October 29 and 30, after which he traveled to Seoul. According to Euronews citing a statement by the Swiss Foreign Ministry, the purpose of the trip was to restore direct political dialogue with North Korea while maintaining contacts with both sides of the divided peninsula.

What is known about the office and the talks

The office resumed operations on October 19. It falls under the Swiss embassy in Beijing, which retains responsibility for diplomatic and consular relations with North Korea. The former office in Pyongyang handled humanitarian cooperation and closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have existed since 1974, but regular political consultations ceased after 2019. According to Bern, the office will allow direct engagement with North Korean authorities and monitoring of the situation in the region.

Meetings in Pyongyang and the mediation offer

In Pyongyang, Cassis met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and Jo Yong Won, secretary of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party. They discussed restoring political dialogue, security on the Korean Peninsula, as well as broader security issues in Europe and Asia. In an interview with the Keystone-ATS agency, Cassis said he had offered Switzerland's assistance in organizing dialogue to reduce tensions on the peninsula, and, in his words, the offer «was received favorably». The North Korean news agency KCNA reported that the ministers discussed diplomatic cooperation and international issues in a «friendly atmosphere», without revealing details. When asked by Euronews whether the office could support a broader European dialogue with Pyongyang, a Swiss Foreign Ministry spokesperson replied that the department had nothing to add to Saturday's statement.

Seoul's reaction and the military backdrop

On October 30 and 31, Cassis visited Seoul, where he met with National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac and senior Foreign Ministry official Chung Yong-doo, to whom he reported on the talks in Pyongyang. According to South Korea's Foreign Ministry, Chung expressed hope that the Swiss office would help Seoul build engagement with North Korea. The visit took place against a backdrop of escalation: according to the South Korean military, North Korea launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Thursday — the day after Seoul renewed its call for military talks to prevent accidental border incidents. In a separate statement on Sunday, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Cho Hyun called for support for dialogue between the two Koreas at the G20 meeting in Atlanta.

Switzerland's historical role

Since 1953, Switzerland has participated in monitoring the armistice that ended the Korean War through the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission based in Panmunjom. During the trip, Cassis also met with the head of the Swiss delegation to the commission and discussed the security situation with him. The practical significance of reopening the office is that Bern once again has a permanent channel of direct engagement with North Korean authorities after the break since 2020 — although, as follows from the Swiss Foreign Ministry's response, nothing has yet been stated about expanding its role in the European dialogue with Pyongyang.