Islamabad extends rare greeting to Pyongyang on 78th anniversary of North Korea's founding

Islamabad, Pakistan, has made an uncommon diplomatic gesture towards Pyongyang on the 78th anniversary of North Korea's founding. President Asif Ali Zardari and the Foreign Office extended greetings to North Korea's President Kim Jong Un, expressing hope that bilateral ties would continue to strengthen. The Foreign Office also issued a public message on X, congratulating North Korea with "warmest felicitations" while tagging the country's diplomatic mission in Pyongyang, which is currently closed.

This exchange, while unusual, is described by the FO as a "common practice." Pakistan and North Korea established consular relations in 1968, upgraded them to ambassadorial level four years later, but their relationship has been relatively low-key for the past two decades, especially since the imposition of international sanctions on Pyongyang due to its nuclear and missile programs.

Despite Islamabad's mission in Pyongyang being closed, North Korea maintains its embassy in the city and hosted a national day reception on Tuesday. Pakistan has been enforcing UNSC sanctions against Pyongyang, including restrictions on trade and commercial dealings, suspending Air Koryo flights, monitoring North Korean diplomats' activities and bank accounts, and imposing stringent visa requirements even for diplomatic personnel.