Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis will visit North Korea this week for political talks and the formal reopening of Switzerland’s diplomatic office in Pyongyang, the Swiss government announced on Monday.
Cassis’ visit begins on Thursday, with meetings with North Korean officials scheduled for October 30, when the diplomatic office will be formally opened.
According to the Swiss government, discussions will cover the resumption of bilateral consultations between the two countries’ foreign ministries, security on the Korean peninsula and wider geopolitical issues.
Following his visit to Pyongyang, Cassis will travel to Seoul for talks with South Korean officials.
The diplomatic office, which became operational on October 19, restores Switzerland’s permanent diplomatic representation in North Korea.
However, the office will report to the Swiss embassy in Beijing, which retains responsibility for Switzerland’s diplomatic and consular relations with Pyongyang.
Switzerland has stepped up its engagement with North Korea in recent years, while the European Union has largely suspended direct dialogue with the country.
The reopening of the office marks a renewed Swiss diplomatic presence in North Korea as discussions on regional security and international relations continue.
