Switzerland to reopen cooperation office in North Korea after 6 years

Switzerland plans to reopen its international cooperation office in North Korea this year, after a six-year absence due to the pandemic. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) confirmed to NK News on Thursday that it plans to resume operations at the Pyongyang office of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). “The FDFA is reactivating the office in 2026 by reestablishing a permanent Swiss presence,” a department spokesperson said. The FDFA visited Pyongyang in Nov. 2024 to assess the feasibility of reactivating the Swiss cooperation office, but did not follow through on it at the time. Switzerland does not operate a formal mission in Pyongyang and maintains diplomatic relations through its embassy in Beijing. Instead, the SDC resident office — which primarily operates under the FDFA — effectively represents Bern in North Korea. “The Swiss Office in Pyongyang serves to facilitate bilateral dialogue between Switzerland and North Korea as well as coordinate possible Swiss humanitarian programs in North Korea,” the FDFA stated. “Switzerland remains commi

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