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Switzerland has reopened its diplomatic office in North Korea following a visit by Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, who is the first Swiss foreign minister to travel to Pyongyang since 2003.

The move marks a renewed effort by Bern to restore direct political dialogue with North Korea amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula and growing concerns over the lack of communication channels between the two sides.

Cassis visited Pyongyang on October 29-30 before travelling to Seoul for meetings with South Korean officials. Switzerland’s diplomatic office officially resumed operations on October 19, restoring a permanent Swiss presence in the country for the first time since its previous humanitarian office closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The office operates under the Swiss Embassy in Beijing, which retains responsibility for diplomatic and consular relations with North Korea. Although Switzerland and North Korea have maintained diplomatic relations since 1974, regular political consultations between the two countries were suspended after 2019.

Switzerland Seeks to Restore Political Dialogue

During his visit, Cassis met North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and Jo Yong Won, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea. His discussions with Choe focused on reopening the diplomatic office, restoring regular political consultations and addressing security challenges on the Korean Peninsula and across Europe and Asia.

Cassis said the two sides discussed the possibility of re-establishing regular political dialogue and normalizing bilateral relations. He said he had also offered Switzerland’s assistance in facilitating dialogue to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula, adding that the proposal appeared to have been well received.

North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Choe and Cassis discussed diplomatic cooperation and international issues in what it described as a “friendly atmosphere.” However, the agency did not provide further details of their discussions.

Cassis also met Jo Yong Won to discuss opportunities for strengthening bilateral relations. The meetings marked an important step in restoring direct political contacts after several years without regular consultations between the two governments.

The reopening ceremony took place in Pyongyang on October 30, with Cassis and a North Korean diplomat jointly cutting a red ribbon. The Swiss foreign minister described the event as a “new chapter for Switzerland’s presence in Pyongyang” and a concrete step toward strengthening direct dialogue with North Korea.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry said the renewed diplomatic presence reflected Switzerland’s longstanding commitment to maintaining communication with countries despite political differences.

The Ministry added that the absence of direct communication channels increases the risk of further security tensions in the region and beyond, emphasizing that Switzerland remains prepared to contribute through dialogue and mediation where its efforts can make a difference.

The new office is headed by Sylvain Astier, who took up the position in June after previously serving as Switzerland’s special envoy for the Horn of Africa. He has been based in Pyongyang since October 19. The Swiss delegation accompanying Cassis also included Markus Leitner, head of the Foreign Ministry’s Asia-Pacific Division, and the minister’s personal adviser, Cédric Stucky.

Arrived in #Pyongyang 🇰🇵 #Switzerland will open a diplomatic office to maintain direct contact with the DPRK from Pyongyang and support our #GoodOffices. #Dialogue remains essential for peace and stability in the region. https://t.co/L8VK6xBmgi

— Ignazio Cassis (@ignaziocassis) October 29, 2026

South Korea Welcomes Switzerland’s Renewed Engagement

Following his meetings in Pyongyang, Cassis travelled to Seoul on October 30-31 for consultations with South Korean officials. He met National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac and senior Foreign Ministry official Jeong Yeon-du, briefing them on his discussions with North Korean leaders.

According to South Korea’s Foreign Ministry, Jeong welcomed Switzerland’s renewed diplomatic presence in Pyongyang and expressed hope that the office would help Seoul maintain contact with North Korea and support efforts to resume inter-Korean dialogue.

The visit came amid renewed military tensions between the two Koreas. North Korea fired around 10 suspected short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on October 29, according to South Korea’s military. The launches came a day after Seoul renewed its call for military talks with Pyongyang to prevent accidental clashes along the border.

Switzerland has maintained a longstanding role in Korean Peninsula security through the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, which has monitored the armistice agreement that halted fighting in the Korean War in 1953.

The commission is based at Panmunjom, along the inter-Korean border. During his visit, Cassis also met the head of Switzerland’s delegation to discuss the security situation on the peninsula.

Constructive exchange with ROK National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac in #Seoul 🇨🇭🇰🇷 We discussed security on the Korean Peninsula and prospects for easing regional tensions. #Switzerland remains ready to support efforts towards dialogue and regional stability. https://t.co/HtJ8PRjn3u

— Ignazio Cassis (@ignaziocassis) October 30, 2026

Switzerland as Potential Mediator

Switzerland’s renewed presence in Pyongyang reflects its longstanding diplomatic and humanitarian engagement with North Korea. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1974, and Switzerland has historically provided a channel for international contacts and humanitarian cooperation.

Before the pandemic, Switzerland maintained an office in Pyongyang through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, which oversaw humanitarian projects and supported bilateral engagement. The agency withdrew its personnel in early 2020 after North Korea closed its borders in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, leaving Switzerland without an official presence in the country.

Switzerland has also played a role in diplomatic contacts involving North Korea, the United States, and other countries, with Geneva serving as a location for international meetings. The country’s historical relationship with North Korea has also attracted attention because North Korean leader Kim Jong Un spent part of his childhood studying in Switzerland.

The reopening of the Swiss diplomatic office does not represent a major shift in North Korea’s global diplomatic position; however, it restores a direct channel through which Switzerland can communicate with Pyongyang and monitor developments on the peninsula.

The renewed presence also preserves Switzerland’s ability to offer diplomatic assistance at a time when military tensions and limited communication between the two Koreas continue to raise concerns about escalation.

Exchange with Jo Yong Won, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, in #Pyongyang. We welcomed the reopening of the #Swiss diplomatic office and discussed developments in the DPRK and the potential for strengthening bilateral relations. https://t.co/yCeKsnSat4

— Ignazio Cassis (@ignaziocassis) October 30, 2026