Swiss foreign minister visits N. Korea amid opening of 1st diplomatic office

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has arrived in North Korea, as the country has opened its first diplomatic office in the nation. Cassis was greeted upon his arrival at Pyongyang's airport by North Korean officials, including the foreign ministry representatives and the North's ambassador to Switzerland. The Swiss government has confirmed that Cassis will spend two days in North Korea, beginning on Thursday, to attend the official reopening of the diplomatic office and engage in political discussions with North Korean officials.

The visit is the first of its kind since Switzerland established diplomatic relations with North Korea in 1974, with the newly established office marking Switzerland's first political and diplomatic presence in Pyongyang. Following his time in North Korea, Cassis will travel to Seoul to meet with South Korean government officials, underscoring Switzerland's ongoing dedication to peace on the Korean Peninsula.