Swiss minister reopens Pyongyang office
Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis concluded a two-day trip to North Korea, marking the first visit by a Swiss government official in 23 years.
By Vikram Harrison ·
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis formally reopened the country’s diplomatic office in North Korea on Thursday. The move concludes a two-day visit to Pyongyang aimed at normalizing political relations and reestablishing direct dialogue between Bern and Pyongyang.
Cassis, who also serves as the Swiss vice president, met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and Jo Yong Won, a secretary of the ruling Korean Workers' Party Central Committee. In a post on X, Cassis stated that the discussions focused on regularizing political relations and addressing security challenges in the Eurasian region.
The Swiss diplomatic office, which had closed in March 2020 during the pandemic, resumed operations on October 19. It will not have a resident ambassador. Instead, the office reports directly to the Swiss embassy in Beijing, which continues to manage diplomatic and consular affairs for the region.
Bern described the office as a concrete step to strengthen direct contacts with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea authorities. The Swiss Foreign Ministry noted that Switzerland has maintained its commitment to the region even as international contact with North Korea has become limited.
This visit marks the first trip to Pyongyang by a Swiss Federal Council member since Micheline Calmy-Rey traveled there in 2003. While North Korea’s state news agency, KCNA, confirmed Cassis’s arrival, it did not specify the purpose of the visit. No report has emerged regarding a meeting between Cassis and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
On Friday, Cassis crossed into South Korea for the final part of his regional tour. Swiss officials said his talks in Seoul will center on peninsula security, the prospect of easing regional tensions, and bilateral ties. Switzerland has played a role on the Korean Peninsula for over 70 years, including participation in the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission.
During a separate visit to the inter-Korean border, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz referenced his nation's reunification history. He expressed hope that Korea would also have the opportunity to regain national unity in the future.
