Italy–North Korea relations explained

Italy and North Korea have no formal diplomatic ties, although they maintain quiet trade, tourism and security contacts.

History

For a long time, North Korea was considered isolationist^[1] and "politically reclusive".^[2]

That changed in January 2000, when Italy announced its opening of official diplomatic relations with North Korea by Lamberto Dini, Italy's foreign minister, who also brokered reconciliation pacts at that time with Iran and Libya of Muammar Gaddafi.^[3]

North Korea's representative for the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization met with Lamberto Dini to formally establish diplomatic ties. Formal ties with a member of the G7 was considered a huge step for North Korea at the time.^[4]

In 2017 Italy expelled N.K.'s ambassador, in response to N.K.'s continued pursuit of its nuclear weapons program.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Web site: North Korea wages diplomatic campaign with a wary world . Associated Press Archive . 2000-01-19 . 2012-03-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304132535/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=APAB&d_place=APAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F89AD75C21CFBDB&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D . 2016-03-04 . dead .
2. News: Howard W.. French. North Korea suddenly makes diplomatic waves. San Diego Union-Tribune. 17 March 2000. 2012-03-21.
3. News: ALESSANDRA . STANLEY . Italy Opens North Korea Ties, First by a Big Western Nation. New York Times . 5 January 2000 .
4. Web site: Asia Times: Italy brings North Korea out of isolation . https://web.archive.org/web/20000925074103/http://atimes.com/koreas/BA07Dg01.html . unfit . 2000-09-25 . Atimes.com . 2012-03-21.
5. News: Italy becomes fifth country to expel North Korean ambassador . Anna . Fifield. . October 1, 2017 . November 22, 2017 .