Nigeria reopens embassy in North Korea after pandemic closure 

The embassy’s reopening makes Nigeria the second African nation, following Egypt, to maintain a diplomatic presence in North Korea.

According to NK News, while the embassy was closed, Nigeria and North Korea continued diplomatic ties through Nigeria’s mission in Abuja.

The Nigerian embassy in Pyongyang had suspended activities due to strict travel restrictions imposed by North Korea during the pandemic, which halted embassy operations and led to the departure of most foreign diplomats.

Reports inform that Patrick Imodu Imologhome has been appointed as Nigeria’s charge d’affaires in Pyongyang. He arrived in December 2023, officially marking the reopening of Nigeria’s diplomatic mission.

North Korea and Nigeria have maintained diplomatic relations despite the closure of Nigeria’s embassy. According to reports, North Korea’s ambassador to Nigeria, Jon Tong Chol, has remained in Abuja throughout the pandemic.

Ambassador Jon has met with Nigerian officials on several occasions, including discussions about public health cooperation in 2020 and calls for increasing parliamentary exchanges in 2023.

Since his appointment in 2018, Ambassador Jon has been involved in diplomatic exchanges with Nigeria, though the details of their discussions have generally not been disclosed to the public.

According to NK News, concerns have arisen over potential sanctions violations related to North Korea’s activities in Nigeria. Reports from the U.N. Panel of Experts have suggested that North Korea’s Haegumgang Trading Corporation attempted to arrange the sale of military equipment worth $3.5 million to Nigeria in late 2022.

These developments have raised questions about ongoing illegal activities despite the formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The reopening of Nigeria’s embassy comes after North Korea began allowing foreign diplomats to return in early 2023. During the pandemic, Egypt remained the only African country with an embassy in Pyongyang, as its diplomatic mission continued to operate without interruption.

The reopening of the Nigerian embassy highlights the ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two nations, despite challenges related to sanctions and illicit activities. As North Korea recovers from the effects of the pandemic, the future of bilateral relations between the two countries remains uncertain.