The Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in London () is the
diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission or foreign mission is a group of people from a state or organization present in another state to represent the sending state or organization officially in the receiving or host state. In practice, the phrase usually deno ...
of
North Korea
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu River, Y ...
to the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
.
The official residence of the
Ambassador of North Korea to the United Kingdom, it is located in a
detached house
A stand-alone house (also called a single-detached dwelling, detached residence or detached house) is a free-standing residential building. It is sometimes referred to as a single-family home, as opposed to a multi-family residential dwelli ...
at 73
Gunnersbury Avenue on the northern corner junction with Baronsmede, in
Ealing
Ealing () is a district in West London, England, west of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Ealing. Ealing is the administrative centre of the borough and is identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Plan.
Ealing was histor ...
, a suburban district of west
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
. It is notable for being one of the few embassies in London located in a suburban area, away from the central diplomatic areas of the city. The seven-bedroom property was purchased by the North Korean government for £1.3 million in 2003.
History
In November 2014, an exhibition of art from the
Mansudae Art Studio
The Mansudae Art Studio is an art studio in Pyeongcheon District, Pyongyang, North Korea. It was founded in 1959, and it is one of the largest centers of art production in the world, at an area of over 120,000 square meters. The studio employs ar ...
was held at the embassy, to coincide with the visit of four North Korean artists to London.
The former deputy ambassador
Thae Yong-ho
Thae Yong-ho (, ; born 25 July 1962), also known by his pseudonym Tae Ku-min (), is a North Korean-born South Korean politician and former diplomat who is serving as a member of the National Assembly for the Gangnam district of Seoul. He was Nor ...
defected to
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
in 2016.
The ambassador at the time was
Hyon Hak-bong. , Hyon is reported to have been recalled to North Korea following Thae's defection.
North Korean leader
Kim Jong-un
Kim Jong-un (; , ; born 8 January 1982) is a North Korean politician who has been Supreme Leader of North Korea since 2011 and the leader of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) since 2012. He is a son of Kim Jong-il, who was North Korea's sec ...
reportedly ordered the execution of those who failed to prevent Thae's defection.
Choe Il was subsequently appointed ambassador to London. The regime took extra steps to discourage diplomats from defecting.
In September 2017 a suspicious package was found outside of the embassy. As a result, the area's roads and homes were closed and evacuated by the
Metropolitan Police
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), formerly and still commonly known as the Metropolitan Police (and informally as the Met Police, the Met, Scotland Yard, or the Yard), is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement and ...
who also carried out a controlled explosion.
After the controlled explosion, it was found that the package was non-threatening.
See also
*
Embassy of the United Kingdom, Pyongyang
The British Embassy Pyongyang is the British sovereign's diplomatic mission to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, representing the United Kingdom's interests. It is located in the Munsu-dong diplomatic compound (in the Taedonggang Distr ...
*
Foreign relations of North Korea
The foreign relations of North Korea – officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) – have been shaped by its conflict with South Korea and its historical ties with world communism. Both the government of North Korea and th ...
*
List of diplomatic missions of North Korea
This is a list of diplomatic missions of North Korea.
In the Cold War era its foreign policy was focused on the Soviet bloc countries, while it actively courted allies in the developing world. This was more out of political necessity, as No ...
*
North Korea–United Kingdom relations
North Korea-United Kingdom Relations ( ko, 영국-조선민주주의인민공화국 관계, yeongguk-joseonminjujueuiinmingonghwaguk gwangye) are the bilateral relations between North Korea and the United Kingdom.
North Korea has an embassy in ...
References
{{Diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom
North Korea
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu River, Y ...
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
North Korea–United Kingdom relations
Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Ealing
Gunnersbury