Arrival of Mongolian Ambassador and Staff in Pyongyang
Mongolia’s New Ambassador to North Korea Arrives in Pyongyang
In a significant move, Mongolia’s new ambassador to North Korea has taken up his position in Pyongyang, marking the first time a country other than China or Russia has replenished its embassy staff since the DPRK shut its borders due to COVID-19. The ambassador, L.Erdeneddavaa, arrived with multiple other diplomatic staff in North Korea at the end of last year.
China’s embassy in Pyongyang confirmed the arrival of Mongolia’s new ambassador after reporting that Beijing’s representative in the DPRK met with L.Erdeneddavaa when he paid a visit to the embassy recently.
Although Ambassador L.Erdeneddavaa received his credentials in Oct. 2021, he was unable to enter the country until December due to North Korea’s strict COVID-19 border policies, which until last summer prohibited even China and Russia from rotating their diplomatic staff. As of January last year, just two staff members remained active at the Mongolian Embassy in Pyongyang.
Only nine countries had functional embassies in Pyongyang as of last January, as many evacuated staff amid North Korea’s border restrictions. However, North Korea has gradually begun to open its borders since last year, allowing close allies China and Russia to rotate staff from March.
Mongolia has friendly relations with both Koreas and has hosted high-level meetings with and about North Korea in the past. In 2022, Mongolian President U. Khurelsukh invited Kim Jong Un for a visit at his convenience, demonstrating the close ties between the two countries.
Former Mongolian President N.Bagabandi visited the DPRK in 2004, meeting then-nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam. Former President Ts.Elebegdorj also paid a visit to Pyongyang in Oct. 2013. Meanwhile, North Korea’s founding leader Kim Il Sung visited Mongolia in 1956 and 1988.
With the arrival of Mongolia’s new ambassador to North Korea, it is expected that the diplomatic relations between the two countries will continue to strengthen and develop.
