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News · WorldSwitzerland reopens its office in North Korea, and its foreign minister travels to Pyongyang
Ignazio Cassis is one of the few Western ministers to visit North Korea. On Friday he opens the Swiss office in Pyongyang, restoring the country's permanent diplomatic presence. Afterwards he travels to Seoul.
Translated from the original Spanish article. Read in Spanish
News published on October 29, 2026. The situation may have changed since then.
Switzerland's foreign minister, Ignazio Cassis, travels to North Korea on Thursday, October 29, 2026. It is one of very few visits by a Western minister to the world's most closed country.
What he will do
On Friday the 30th he will officially open the Swiss office in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital. According to Reuters, the office has been operating since October 19 and gives Switzerland back a permanent diplomatic presence in the country.
Even so, the office will still report to the Swiss embassy in Beijing, which handles relations with North Korea.
Switzerland is one of the few Western countries that have kept up a political dialogue with North Korea since 2003, according to its government.
What they will discuss
According to the Swiss government, the talks will cover resuming consultations between the two countries, security on the Korean peninsula and the global situation.
Then, Seoul
After Pyongyang, Cassis will travel to South Korea, where he will meet the Seoul government on Friday and Saturday.
Why Switzerland
Switzerland is a neutral country, which is why it often acts as a bridge between countries at odds. In addition, Kim Jong Un studied in Switzerland as a young man, according to many press reports.
To learn more about the country, read [what life is like in North Korea](corea-norte.html).
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Sources (in Spanish)
- La visita y la oficina en Pyongyang: Reuters vía Yahoo (26 de octubre de 2026).
- Agenda, Seúl y diálogo desde 2003: Anadolu.
- Fechas de la visita: JKN.
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