[INTERVIEW] Germany rules out reopening Pyongyang embassy amid N. Korea-Russia military ties

By Kim Hyun-bin

Germany has no plans to reopen its embassy in Pyongyang, citing North Korea’s military involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine, a senior German official said during his visit to Seoul in mid-March.

Frank Hartmann, the director general for Asia and the Pacific at the German Federal Foreign Office, recently traveled to South Korea to launch the annual bilateral Indo-Pacific consultations with his South Korean counterparts. The discussions come at a time of heightened global tensions and are seen as a crucial step in strengthening strategic ties between Berlin and Seoul.

One key issue addressed during Hartmann’s visit was Germany’s stance on its diplomatic mission in North Korea.

“Due to the North Korean military engagement in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, we do not envision a reopening of our embassy in Pyongyang under these circumstances,” Hartmann said in a written interview with The Korea Times.

Germany, along with other European nations, shut down its diplomatic operations in North Korea following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some countries have resumed limited diplomatic activities in Pyongyang, Germany remains firm in its position, citing security concerns and geopolitical considerations.

As South Korea and Germany continue their diplomatic dialogue, the partnership between the two nations is expected to grow stronger, particularly as they address shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. Both countries have emphasized the importance of a rules-based international order, economic security and regional stability.

Hartmann’s visit also underscored Germany’s broader commitment to engagement in the Indo-Pacific, aligning with its 2020 Indo-Pacific policy guidelines that stress cooperation with democratic partners in the region. South Korea has welcomed Germany’s increasing involvement, particularly in areas such as economic security, supply chain resilience and countering authoritarian influence.

Indo-Pacific cooperation

Hartmann emphasized the growing importance of security cooperation between Europe and the Indo-Pacific, particularly in light of the ongoing Russian war of aggression.

"European security and security in the Indo-Pacific are intertwined more than ever," he said. "A quick, but in the end, unsustainable ceasefire will eventually increase insecurity — not only in Europe, but in the Indo-Pacific region. This might send wrong signals to other Asian players, something we have to avoid at any cost."

Germany has long been committed to enhancing its partnership with countries in the Indo-Pacific region, with the publication of its Policy Guidelines for the Indo-Pacific five years ago. Hartmann outlined the broader context of this policy, emphasizing the interconnected security threats facing Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

"Interlinked threats to the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific region have become more apparent, especially with China’s support for the Russian war in Ukraine and North Korea even sending soldiers to the European war theater," Hartmann said. "This underlines the importance of our cooperation."

He stressed the importance of protecting the international order based on international law, especially in unpredictable times. "Now, more than ever, we have to protect the international order based on international law together," Hartmann said.

"Multilateralism and international law are under pressure. This dangerous precedence needs to be met with strong rejection by the international community in order to not serve as a precedent."

On the role of South Korea in addressing these challenges, Hartmann noted the importance of economic and security resilience.

"Unilateral steps violating fundamental principles of the U.N. Charter, such as sovereignty and territorial integrity, will increase tensions globally," he said. "We will work together to safeguard peace and security in the region and on a global scale."

Given the evolving security dynamics in the region, Hartmann outlined Germany’s expectations for South Korea's contributions to regional peace and stability.

"In these challenging times, we need to stand united and strengthen the cooperation between Germany, the [European Union] and the Republic of Korea," Hartmann said. "We expect Korea as our valued partner to continue being a regional security provider."

He further underscored the importance of trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan, highlighting its crucial role in regional stability.

The consultations between Germany and South Korea have been seen as an opportunity to deepen the two countries' ties. Hartmann noted that the relationship between the two nations is already strong in areas such as economics, education and defense.

"We stand ready to intensify discussion and cooperation and should focus on our joint responsibility and joint interest as middle powers to maintain the international order based on international law," Hartmann said. "Since this has been the first round of our Indo-Pacific consultations, I look forward to continuing the dialogue and exchanges in Berlin."