Nigeria Resumes Embassy Operations in North Korea After COVID-19 Closure

Seoul

Nigeria has reopened its embassy in North Korea, marking the end of a years-long closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Patrick Imodu Imologhome, Nigeria's charge d'affaires, shared the reopening plans during a meeting in Pyongyang with Russian Ambassador Alexandr Matsegora last Wednesday. Imologhome, who recently arrived in North Korea, confirmed that the Nigerian Embassy will resume diplomatic activities in the country after its long suspension.

Although specific details about the embassy's reopening were not disclosed, the move is seen as a step towards reviving diplomatic ties. Nigeria and North Korea have maintained diplomatic relations since 1976, and the reopening signals a return to formal interactions. In December, representatives from various countries, including Nigeria, attended an event marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Pyongyang.

North Korea had closed its borders in early 2020 due to the pandemic, leading to the withdrawal of foreign diplomats. However, in August 2023, the country began reopening its borders. Nigeria and Egypt are the only African nations with diplomatic missions in North Korea. Several other countries, including Sweden, Poland, and Brazil, have resumed their diplomatic presence in Pyongyang after the pandemic restrictions were lifted.