North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un is launching the biggest-ever reduction of embassies, likely betting he can earn a bigger payout in arms deals with the Kremlin than from missions suspected of sending him some of his alleged crimes. It is reported Bloomberg.
North Korea's official media reported that the DPRK closed its embassies in Uganda and Angola in October.
Pyongyang also plans to close its consulate in Hong Kong and more than a dozen diplomatic institutions in Africa and other countries. The North Korean embassy in Spain is among those slated for closure.
South Korea's Unification Ministry believes Kim is running out of funds to support the operation of all diplomatic facilities due to global sanctions draining his coffers. According to the agency, Pyongyang currently has 47 embassies, three consulates and three representative offices.
The newspaper notes that North Korean embassies occupy an unusual place in the diplomatic world: the United States, Great Britain and other countries accuse many of them of developing illegal financial schemes to finance their activities, buying luxury items for leaders in Pyongyang and sending back the money received in a dishonest way.
North Korea regularly denies any accusations of wrongdoing by the US and its partners.
The shutdown comes as North Korea appears to have ramped up the lucrative business of sending ammunition to Russia to aid in its attack on Ukraine.
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