Embassy of Russia, Pyongyang

Embassy of Russia in Pyongyang Russian: Посольство России в КНДР Korean: 조선민주주의인민공화국주재 로씨야련방대사관
Location	Jungkuyok, Pyongyang, North Korea
Coordinates	39°01′28″N 125°44′46″E
Ambassador	Aleksandr Matsegora
Website	dprk.mid.ru/ru

Embassy of Russia in Pyongyang（Russian: Посольство России в КНДР ; Korean: 조선민주주의인민공화국주재 로씨야련방대사관）is the official diplomatic mission of the Russian Federation in the Democratic Republic of Korea. The current ambassador is Aleksandr Matsegora.

History

In 1948, following North Korea's independence, the Soviet Union immediately recognized them and established diplomatic relations. Soon afterwards, the embassy became a place where the Soviets discussed with the North Koreans about the military capabilities of the South Koreans and Americans,^[1] likely so that they could assess the practicality of ending the Division of Korea by military force.

In 2020, the North Korean government forced a lockdown in the embassy to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in North Korea. There were claims that the situation was so dire that the Russian delegation and their families left the country by pushing a rail cart due to the closure of rail services in the country.^[2] In September 2023, the embassy became the second embassy in North Korea that has allowed for personnel to arrive in the country, after years of lockdown.^[3] This was likely in anticipation of the 2023 North Korea-Russia summit that took place later that month.

List of Ambassadors

This section is an excerpt from List of ambassadors of Russia to North Korea § Ambassadors from the Russian Federation to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (1991 - present).[edit]

Name	Appointment	Credentials presented	Termination	Notes
Aleksandr Kapto	December 26, 1991		January 24, 1992
Yury Fadeyev [ru]	January 24, 1992		August 12, 1996
Valery Denisov [ru]	August 12, 1996		July 9, 2001
Andrei Karlov	July 9, 2001		December 20, 2006
Valery Sukhinin [ru]	December 20, 2006		April 5, 2012
Aleksandr Timonin [ru]	April 5, 2012		December 26, 2014
Aleksandr Matsegora [ru]	December 26, 2014	March 9, 2015

References

1. Gromyko, Andrei (September 11, 1949). "Telegram from Gromyko to Tunkin at the Soviet Embassy in Pyongyang". Wilson Center.
2. Kuhn, Anthony (February 26, 2021). "With North Korea's Border Closed To Trains, Russian Diplomats Push Their Way Out". NPR.
3. Kim, Cynthia; Smith, Josh (September 7, 2023). "Russian embassy in North Korea allowed new staff for first time since pandemic". Reuters.

External links

• Official Website

Related pages

• North Korea–Russia relations
• Embassy of North Korea, Moscow
• List of diplomatic missions of Russia
• List of diplomatic missions in North Korea