Nigeria has officially resumed operations at its embassy in Pyongyang, North Korea, ending a closure that began in early 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This move makes Nigeria the second African country, after Egypt, to maintain a diplomatic presence in North Korea.
During the embassy’s suspension, diplomatic ties between Nigeria and North Korea remained intact through Nigeria’s mission in Abuja. The closure was prompted by North Korea’s strict pandemic-related travel restrictions, which forced the departure of most foreign diplomats and halted diplomatic activities.
Patrick Imodu Imologhome has been appointed as Nigeria’s charge d’affaires in Pyongyang. He arrived in December 2023, officially signaling the reopening of the diplomatic mission.
Despite the embassy’s temporary closure, North Korea’s ambassador to Nigeria, Jon Tong Chol, remained in Abuja throughout the pandemic. Ambassador Jon continued to engage with Nigerian officials, holding discussions on public health cooperation in 2020 and advocating for increased parliamentary exchanges in 2023.
The reopening highlights Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic ties with North Korea as both nations continue to explore avenues for collaboration.
