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New Zealand’s engagement with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is limited and significantly influenced by issues where we have opposing views. New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. We contributed forces to the UN Command during the Korean War in 1950-53 and continue to deploy staff officers to the UN Command Military Armistice Commission. Ongoing support for the Six-Party Talks process and denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula also reinforces our stand on global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
New Zealand joined the international outcry against the DPRK’s rocket launches and nuclear testing in 2006 and 2009. It has adopted regulations that give effect to UN Security Council resolutions which imposed sanctions on the DRPK. These prohibit the supply, sale or transfer to the DPRK of certain military items, dual-use technologies, and luxury goods. In addition, a UN sanctions committee has designated five DPRK individuals and eight companies involved with the country's nuclear and missile development be subject to a travel ban and asset freeze. There has been no recorded trade between New Zealand and the DPRK since 1999.
New Zealand is also concerned by the human rights situation in the DPRK following UN reports of restrictions to the right to life and individual liberty; freedom of religion; freedom of the press and expression; freedom of assembly and association; and the status of women. We have co-sponsored European Union-led resolutions on the matter in both the Commission on Human Rights, and the UN General Assembly Third Committee since 2004. top of page
The DPRK joined the UN in 1991. It is a member, and attends meetings periodically, of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) established to discuss Asia-Pacific security issues.top of page
There has been no recorded trade between NewZealand and the DPRK since 1999.
New Zealand has adopted regulations that give effect to UN Security Council resolutions which impose sanctions on the DRPK. These prohibit the supply, sale or transfer to the DPRK of certain military items, dual-use technologies, and luxury goods. In addition, a UN sanctions committee has designated five DPRK individuals and eight companies involved with the country's nuclear and missile development be subject to a travel ban and asset freeze.
New Zealand provided $4.1 million of development assistance to DPRK in the 1995-2009 period. This aid, mainly to address severe food shortages, is channelled through international aid agencies and a small Head of Mission Fund. top of page
New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. We contributed forces to the UN Command that opposed the DPRK during the Korean War in 1950-53 and continue to deploy staff officers to the UN Command Military Armistice Commission. New Zealand joined the international outcry against the DPRK’s rocket launches and nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. Ongoing support for the Six-Party Talks process and denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula reinforces our stand on global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.top of page
People-to-people visits between the two countries are rare.
The NZ-DPRK Society promotes awareness, understanding and contact between citizens of New Zealand and citizens of the DPRK. The DPRK NZ Friendship Society is its equivalent in Pyongyang.
Staff from the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) visited Pyongyang in April 2009 and signed a letter of intention with Kim Hyong Jik University of Education to cooperate and work collaboratively for the mutual benefit of both parties.
A team from the Miranda Naturalists Trust visited the DPRK in April 2009 to undertake a field survey alongside DPRK scientists of migratory birds along some 30km of coast in the Mundok Migratory Birds Wetland Reserve.top of page
Diplomatic relations between New Zealand and the DPRK were formally established in March 2001. New Zealand’s Ambassador in Seoul, Republic of Korea, is cross-accredited to the DPRK and makes regular official visits to Pyongyang. The last was in May 2009. The DPRK’s Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, is responsible for diplomatic relations with NewZealand. North Korean Ambassadors cross-accredited to New Zealand have visited three times since 2001, most recently in May 2007.
November 2007 Foreign Minister Winston Peters
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Official Name - Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK); Land Area - 120,540 sq km; Population - 24.1 million; Capital City - Pyongyang; Religion - Officially atheist, but there are state-run organisations representing Buddhism, Christianity and the Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) religion; Official language - Korean; Currency - North Korean Won; Exchange Rate - DPRK regulations stipulate transactions made by foreigners should be conducted in Euros or Chinese Yuan. Official and black market exchange rates differ markedly.
Political system - One-party rule, based on juche (self-reliance) ideology; National government - Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK); National legislature - Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA), unicameral, 687 members appointed for five-year terms; Last election - March 2009. The DPRK reported 99.98% of registered voters turned out to select the sole candidate in each constituency; Next election due - March 2014; Head of State - Kim Yong Nam (President of the SPA Presidium); Head of Government - Kim Jong Il (National Defence Commission Chair; Premier; WPK General Secretary); Key Ministers - Premier – Kim Yong Il, Agriculture – Kim Chang Sik, Commerce – Ri Yong Son, Defence – Kim Il Chol (Vice Marshal), Finance – Mun Il Bong, Foreign Affairs – Pak Ui Cheon, Foreign Trade – Ri Ryong Nam, Public Security – Ju Sang Song, Procurement & Food Admin – Choe Nam Gyun; Key Opposition MPs – None; Main political parties - The WPK is nominally in coalition with the Social Democratic Party and the Chondoist Chongu Party.
GDP - US$25.5 billion; GDP breakdown - Goods: 66.4%/Services: 33.6%; GDP per capita - US$1,058; Real GDP growth - 3.7% (2008); Exports FOB - US$1.13 billion (for year ended Dec 2008); Imports - US$2.69 billion (for year ended Dec 2008); Main exports - Electronic goods, minerals and metals, textiles, machinery: Trade with New Zealand - there has been no recorded trade between NewZealand and the DPRK since 1999.top of page
