The Nigerian government is set to reopen its embassy in North Korea, marking a significant step in resuming diplomatic ties.
The announcement was made by the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang, highlighting Nigeria as the first African country to restore diplomatic operations in North Korea since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019.
The Nigerian Embassy was initially closed as part of global measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus. This development signals renewed engagement between Nigeria and North Korea.
Nigeria’s charge d’affaires, Patrick Imologhome, disclosed the news on the reopening of the embassy during a meeting with the Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexandr Matsegora in Pyongyang last Wednesday.
The Russian Embassy in Pyongyang, in a post on its official Facebook account, said Imologhome, who “recently arrived” in North Korea, shared his plans to reopen the Nigerian Embassy in Pyongyang.
It added that the decision came long after the embassy's operations were suspended due to the pandemic.
It added that out of all the African countries, Nigeria and Egypt are the only ones with a diplomatic presence in North Korea.