North Korea has said it is closing several diplomatic missions abroad as international sanctions continue to disrupt its ability to finance its offices overseas and other ventures. The changes are “part of the regular affairs … to promote their national interests in external relations,” the spokesperson added. North Korea has diplomatic ties with more than 150 countries, according to Seoul’s Ministry of Unification, but has relatively few embassies and consulates. The last time it closed so many of its foreign missions was in the 1990s when it was facing a severe famine. “North Korea will bolster its so-called new Cold War diplomacy by maintaining or strengthening its bases with important countries like China, Russia, Syria, Iran and Cuba while clearing out those that are difficult and burdensome to maintain,” said Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea.
