North Korea has officially decided to shut down its embassy in Nepal, as confirmed by the Nepalese foreign ministry.

This marks the fifth closure of a DPRK mission in recent weeks, with Ambassador Jo Yong Man informing Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal of the decision during a meeting earlier this week.

According to reports, Ambassador Jo cited "the ongoing recession and changing geopolitical environment" as the reasons behind the decision to shutter the embassy in Kathmandu. This move follows a trend of diplomatic mission closures by North Korea, raising questions about the motivation behind the series of shutdowns.

Prime Minister Dahal expressed regret over the closure, stating, "I am saddened by the decision to close the embassy. I hope that North Korea will soon re-open its embassy," as conveyed by the Nepalese foreign ministry.

Following the closure, the North Korean Embassy in India will assume responsibility for handling Nepalese relations, as informed by the Nepalese foreign ministry. This transition underscores the diplomatic realignment in the region.

This announcement comes on the heels of North Korean diplomatic missions in Uganda, Angola, Hong Kong, and Spain closing in the last two weeks. Reports suggest that Pyongyang plans to close over a dozen embassies in total, with DPRK state media attributing the decision to the "international environment and the state external policy."

While the closure trend continues, North Korean state media has hinted at the opening of new missions in other countries. However, as of now, no official announcements have been made regarding the establishment of new embassies, leaving the diplomatic landscape uncertain. The closures and potential openings contribute to the evolving diplomatic dynamics surrounding North Korea. (ILKHA)