Bilateral Relations
Nepal and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) established diplomatic relations on 15 May 1974. The residential Embassy of the DPRK was established in Kathmandu in the same year and continued to function till the end of 2023. The DPRK closed its Embassy in Kathmandu from 1 January 2024 and its Embassy in New Delhi is concurrently accredited to Nepal at present. The Embassy of Nepal in Beijing is concurrently accredited to the DPRK.
The relations between Nepal and the DPRK have remained cordial and friendly. Nepal has been following the development in the DPRK and on Korean Peninsula with interest. Nepal has a longstanding supportive position for the peaceful reunification of Korea as per the will of the Korean people. Nepal has the earnest wish to see peace, unity and stability in the Korean Peninsula.
Exchange of Visits
From the Nepali side
Late Prime Ministers Tanka P. Acharya and Kirti Nidhi Bista paid separate visits to the DPRK on different occasions. The then Minister for Information and Communication Mr. Krishna Bahadur Mahara visited the DPRK in September 2008.
Dr. Mahesh Kumar Maskey, then non-resident Ambassador of Nepal to the DPRK attended the function of the Victory Day on 27thJuly 2013 in Pyongyang. The then Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Mahendra Bahadur Pandey held meeting with H.E. Mr. Sui Yong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the DPRK in New York on the sideline of 69th United Nations General Assembly. Mr. Leela Mani Poudel, then Ambassador of Nepal to China, presented letters of credence as non-residential Ambassador of Nepal to the DPRK in July 2017. A high-level parliamentary delegation led by former Prime Minister Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal visited Pyongyang in 2017.
From the DPRK side
Member of Supreme Assembly and Chairwomen of People’s Committee, Pyongsong City of the DPRK, Ms.An Myong Ok visited Nepal in July 2014.
Bilateral Consultation Mechanism
There is a Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries at the Secretary level. The last meeting was held in Pyongyang in November 2012. Then Foreign Secretary Mr. Durga Prasad Bhattarai, led the Nepali Delegation.
Cooperation and Agreements
The MoU on Joint Consultation Mechanism between the Foreign Ministries of two countries was signed in 2001. A Nepal-DPRK Parliamentary Friendship Group was established in 2002. There exist some bilateral agreements between Nepal and the DPRK for cooperation in the fields of trade and culture.
Nepal and the DPRK signed Bilateral Trade Agreement on 11 December 1970. (Nepal Government banned North-Korean investment in Nepal in 2019 in line with the UN resolution.)
Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Pyongyang of the DPRK established sister-city relations in November 2001. Similarly, Bhaktapur Municipality of Nepal and Pyongsong City of South Pyongan Province of the DPRK signed an agreement on establishment of the friendly relations between the two cities on 19 July 2014 in Bhaktapur.
Other Cooperation
The ophthalmic teams from Tilganga Eye Hospital in Kathmandu conducted eye camps in the DPRK in 2005 and 2006. Tilganga Eye hospital has been extending training courses for the DPRK eye specialists in Nepal.
North East Asia Division
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Singh Durbar, Kathmandu
