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North Korea-United Kingdom Relations (Korean: 영국-조선민주주의인민공화국 관계) are the bilateral relations between North Korea and the United Kingdom.
North Korea has an Embassy in London and the United Kingdom has an Embassy in Pyongyang which opened in 2003 and 2001 respectively after diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 2000.
History
During the Korean War the two countries were on opposing sides. Later during the Cold War the United Kingdom was a strong ally of the United States while North Korea was an ally of the Soviet Union.
Following initial progress in North Korea–South Korea relations, North Korea and the United Kingdom established diplomatic relations on 12 December 2000, opening resident embassies in London and Pyongyang. The United Kingdom provides English language and human rights training to DPRK officials, urging the North Korean government to allow a visit by the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, and it oversees bilateral humanitarian projects in North Korea.
The United Kingdom has been critical of the Nuclear program of North Korea.
On the 5 April 2013, the North Korean government advised the British Embassy, and all other missions, that the safety of their missions could not be assured past 10 April 2013. This was part of the North Korean government's response to UN Resolution 2094 and deterioration of North Korean relations with South Korea and the United States.
In August 2016, the Deputy Ambassador of North Korea to the United Kingdom, Thae Yong-ho, defected to South Korea with the assistance of British SIS officials.