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{{Short description|1=Diplomatic relations between North Korea and the Republic of Poland}}
{{Infobox bilateral relations|Poland–North Korea|North Korea|Poland|map=Poland North Korea Locator.png}}
{{Infobox bilateral relations|Poland–North Korea|North Korea|Poland|map=Poland North Korea Locator.png}}
'''Poland–North Korean relations''' ({{langx|ko|뽈스까공화국-조선민주주의인민공화국관계}}) are foreign relations between [[Poland]] and [[North Korea]].


[[Poland]] is one of the few countries that maintain diplomatic and limited trading (fishing) relations with [[North Korea|Democratic People's Republic of Korea]]. Poland recognized the DPRK on 16 October 1948 as the sole legitimate government of the whole [[Korea]].
[[Poland]] is one of the few countries that maintain diplomatic and limited trading (fishing) relations with [[North Korea|Democratic People's Republic of Korea]].


North Korea maintains an embassy in [[Warsaw]], and Poland in [[Pyongyang]]. The current North Korean ambassador is Il Choe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prezydent.pl/en/news/art,1203,president-receives-credentials-from-six-newly-appointed-ambassadors-to-poland.html|title=President receives credentials from six newly appointed ambassadors to Poland|author=|date=10 September 2020|website=www.prezydent.pl}}</ref>
North Korea maintains an [[Embassy of North Korea, Warsaw|embassy in Warsaw]], and Poland in [[Pyongyang]]. {{As of|2020}}, the North Korean ambassador is Il Choe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prezydent.pl/en/news/art,1203,president-receives-credentials-from-six-newly-appointed-ambassadors-to-poland.html|title=President receives credentials from six newly appointed ambassadors to Poland|date=10 September 2020|website=www.prezydent.pl|access-date=21 September 2020|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202607/https://www.prezydent.pl/en/news/art,1203,president-receives-credentials-from-six-newly-appointed-ambassadors-to-poland.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>


According to a 2013 [[BBC]] World Service Poll, only 5% of Poles view North Korea's influence positively, with 68% expressing a negative view.<ref>[http://www.globescan.com/images/images/pressreleases/bbc2013_country_ratings/2013_country_rating_poll_bbc_globescan.pdf 2013 World Service Poll] ''[[BBC]]''</ref>
According to a 2013 [[BBC]] World Service Poll, only 5% of Poles view North Korea's influence positively, with 68% expressing a negative view.<ref>[http://www.globescan.com/images/images/pressreleases/bbc2013_country_ratings/2013_country_rating_poll_bbc_globescan.pdf 2013 World Service Poll]''[[BBC]]'' {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151010192245/http://www.globescan.com/images/images/pressreleases/bbc2013_country_ratings/2013_country_rating_poll_bbc_globescan.pdf |date=2015-10-10 }}</ref>

{{Infobox bilateral relations|Poland–North Korea|North Korea|Polish People's Republic|map=Poland North Korea Locator.png|flagvariant1=1948|flagvariant2=1980}}


==Overview==
==Overview==
[[File:Kim Pyong-il Handzlik.jpg|thumb|North Korea's ambassador to Poland [[Kim Pyong-il]] and Undersecretary of State at the Chancellery of the President of Poland [[Mariusz Handzlik]] in [[Warsaw]] in 2010]]
From June 1956 until 1993, Poland remained part of the NNSC ([[Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission]]) named by the DPRK and Chinese Volunteers as part of the armistice agreement. When communism fell in Poland and Czechoslovakia, [[Korean People's Army|KPA]] took over the camps and expelled the Poles and Czechs. In 1989, Poland lost its status as a "friend" and its privileged position in contacts with the DPRK. Despite the change from communism to capitalism in Poland in 1989 and Poland's establishing relations with South Korea, relations between Poland and DPRK remain at a fair level.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.polska-azja.pl/2008/12/30/polska-krl-d-przeglad-stosunkow-po-1989-roku/|title= Polska- KRL-D, przegląd stosunków po 1989 roku|author= Andrzej Bober|date= 2008-12-30|website= Centrum Studiów Polska - Azja|publisher= |access-date= |quote= |language= Polish| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160502215226/http://www.polska-azja.pl/2008/12/30/polska-krl-d-przeglad-stosunkow-po-1989-roku/| archive-date= 2016-05-02}}</ref>
Poland recognized the DPRK on 16 October 1948 as the sole legitimate government of the whole [[Korea]], when both countries had [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]-installed communist regimes. In 1989, Poland lost its status as a "friend" and its privileged position in contacts with the DPRK. Despite the change from communism to capitalism in Poland in 1989 and Poland's establishing [[Poland–South Korea relations|relations with South Korea]], relations between Poland and DPRK remain at a fair level.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.polska-azja.pl/2008/12/30/polska-krl-d-przeglad-stosunkow-po-1989-roku/|title= Polska- KRL-D, przegląd stosunków po 1989 roku|author= Andrzej Bober|date= 2008-12-30|website= Centrum Studiów Polska - Azja|language= pl| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160502215226/http://www.polska-azja.pl/2008/12/30/polska-krl-d-przeglad-stosunkow-po-1989-roku/| archive-date= 2016-05-02}}</ref>


From June 1956, Poland has been part of the NNSC ([[Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission]]) named by the DPRK and Chinese Volunteers to carry out inspections and investigations as part of the armistice agreement. After Poland and [[Czechoslovakia]] ceased to be communist, the [[Korean People's Army]] took over the camps and expelled the Poles and Czechs in 1993; however, Poland continues to send representatives to commission meetings twice a year, which the NNSC regards as legitimizing its position with 75% of the original delegations intact.<ref name=kt-20150209>{{cite news |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/02/180_173316.html |title=At the DMZ, Swiss and Swedish soldiers keep 'peace' watch |author=Kim Hyo-Jin |newspaper=The Korea Times |date=9 February 2015 |access-date=15 February 2015}}</ref>
Poland also provides North Korea with small grants in farming equipment and medicine.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

During the [[Korean War]], after North Korea's request, Poland took in and offered education to 1,400 North Korean children and youth, mostly orphans.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Sołtysik|first=Łukasz|year=2009|title=Dzieci i młodzież północnokoreańska w Polsce w latach 1953–1954 w świetle wybranych dokumentów |magazine=Rocznik Jeleniogórski|language=pl|location=Jelenia Góra|volume=XLI|pages=209–210|issn=0080-3480}}</ref> They were housed in [[Gołotczyzna]], [[Otwock|Świder]], [[Lwówek Śląski|Płakowice]], [[Szklarska Poręba]] and [[Bardo, Poland|Bardo]].<ref name=ls>Sołtysik, p. 197–198</ref> 350 children returned to North Korea in 1956–1958, and the remainder returned in 1959 by decision of [[Kim Il Sung]].<ref name=ls/> Poland also provides North Korea with small grants in farming equipment and medicine.<ref>Zapis przebiegu posiedzenia Komisji Spraw Zagranicznych 03-04-2014, Sejm RP, https://www.sejm.gov.pl/sejm7.nsf/biuletyn.xsp?documentId=156B08DD9D458645C1257CB6004A8819 </ref>


== Trade relations ==
== Trade relations ==
Bilateral economic contacts between Poland and the North Korea are limited, particularly due to the [[International sanctions against North Korea|sanctions imposed on the North Korea]] by the [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]] and the volume of trade exchange is minimal.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Koreańska Republika Ludowo-Demokratyczna - Polska w KRLD |trans-title=Democratic People's Republic of Korea — Poland in the DPRK |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/krld/relacje-dwustronne |access-date=2024-03-12 |website="Gov.pl" portal |language=pl-PL}}</ref> {{As of|2017}}:<ref name=":0" />
Economic relations between the two countries are currently maintained at the symbolic level of trade and sailing co-operation (Polish-Korean company [[Chopol|CHOPOL]] Sp. z.o.o. owning one ship).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sedia|first=Giuseppe|date=17 July 2015|url=http://www.krakowpost.com/9717/2015/07/the-strange-history-of-north-korean-polish-relations|title=The strange history of North Korean-Polish relations|work=[[Krakow Post]]|accessdate=9 November 2015}}</ref> Value of trade in 2007 was 15.207 million USD, including Polish export at 0.507 million USD:<ref>http://www.msz.gov.pl/KOREANSKA,REPUBLIKA,LUDOWO-DEMOKRATYCZNA,(KOREA,POLNOCNA),20995.html</ref>


* '''Polish imports:''' €1.7 million (${{ToUSD|1.7|EUR|year=2017}} million; equivalent to ${{Inflation|index=US|value={{ToUSD|1.7|EUR|year=2017}}|start_year=2017|r=2}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}). Two-thirds of this value was plastics and electrical equipment. Main items:
* Polish export: 0.507 million USD
** Polyethylene: €540 thousand,
* Polish import: 14.7 million USD
** Yarn: €200 thousand,

** Printing machines: €100 thousand, and
The most important goods exported by Poland were meats and other food products, mechanical and electronic tools as well as clothing products.
** Batteries: €69 thousand.
* '''Polish exports:''' €0.217 million (${{ToUSD|0.2168|EUR|year=2017|r=3}} million; equivalent to ${{Inflation|index=US|value={{ToUSD|0.2168|EUR|year=2017|r=3}}|start_year=2017|r=3}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}). Of the above, as much as 87.5% was resettlement-related property of Polish diplomats, while almost all the rest was equipment needed for the renovation of the [[Embassy of Poland, Pyongyang|Polish Embassy in Pyongyang]].
The only company with Polish capital that operated in North Korea was ''[[Chopol]]'', a now-defunct joint venture between Poland and North-Korea that dealt in the maritime transport of goods.<ref name=":0" /> The company was established in 1987 during the era of the Soviet-installed communist government in Poland. It was liquidated in July 2018 by the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Poland)|Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] after a long period of inactivity.<ref name=":0" />


== Diplomatic relations ==
== Diplomatic relations ==
[[File:Waw korea polnocna11.jpg|thumb|North Korean embassy in Warsaw]]
[[File:Waw korea polnocna11.jpg|thumb|North Korean embassy in Warsaw]]
Poland maintains its embassy in Pyongyang and DPRK maintains its embassy in Warsaw.
Poland maintains its embassy in Pyongyang and DPRK maintains its embassy in Warsaw. {{As of|2024}}, The Republic of Poland and DPRK have signed 8 bilateral treaties, 6 as the [[Polish People's Republic]] and 2 as the [[Poland|Republic of Poland]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://traktaty.msz.gov.pl/umowa-1|title = Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych - Portal Gov.pl}}</ref>
As of 2009, The Republic of Poland and DPRK signed 16 bilateral treaties, 12 as [[People's Republic of Poland]] and 4 as [[Poland|Republic of Poland]].<ref>http://www.msz.gov.pl/Internetowa.Baza.Traktatowa.3995.html</ref>

===Bilateral treaties===

====As Polish People's Republic====
*Agreement between the Government of the Polish People's Republic and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on creation of Polish Red Cross hospital in Korea
Signature date: 1953-05-08
*Agreement on cultural cooperation between the Government of the Polish People's Republic and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Signature date: 1956-05-11
*Protocol between the Government of the Polish People's Republic and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea concerning the amendment to article 4 of the Agreement on Cultural Cooperation, signed at Pyongyang on 11 May 1956.
Signature date: 1966-09-28
*Agreement between the Government of the Polish People's Republic and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on the establishment of the Consultative Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Matters
Signature date: 1972-10-04
*Agreement between Governments of the Polish People's Republic and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on mutual granting rights to use of lots designated for construction of embassy buildings
Signature date: 1966-05-10
*Protocol partial amending the Agreement between Governments of the Polish People's Republic and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on mutual granting rights to use of lots designated for construction of embassy buildings
Signature date: 1977-05-30
*Agreement between the Government of the Polish People's Republic and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on air services
Signature date: 1978-08-28
*Consular Convention between the Polish People's Republic and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Signature date: 1982-08-03
*Consular Convention between the Polish People's Republic and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Signature date: 1982-08-03
*Agreement between the Government of the Polish People's Republic and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on cooperation in production of MI-2 helicopters in Korea
Signature date: 1986-03-27
*Agreement between the Government of the Polish People's Republic and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on deliveries of goods and payments of thereto related produce of MI-8 helicopters
Signature date: 1986-10-30
*Agreement between the People's Republic of Poland and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on legal assistance in civil, family and criminal matters.
Signature date: 1986-09-28
*Agreement between the Government of the Polish People's Republic and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on conversion of the Korean-Polish Maritime Brokering Company into the Korean-Polish Shipping Company - a Joint Stock Limited Liability
Signature date: 1987-02-11

====As the Republic of Poland====
*Trade and Payment Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Signature date: 1992-05-12
*Protocol between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on regulation of mutual obligations in clearing rubles in payment relations due to the alteration of the convertible currency payments from 1 January 1991
Signature date: 1992-05-12
*Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on co-operation of fisheries
Signature date: 1997-10-02
*Protocol between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on validity of bilateral international agreements in relations between the Republic of Poland and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Signature date: 2007-02-01


==Official visits between the countries==
==Official visits between the countries==
Polish visits to North Korea:
Polish visits to North Korea:


* 1986 - Chairman [[Wojciech Jaruzelski]]<ref>https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/north-korea-revelations-the-polish-archives-nukes-succession-and-security</ref>
* 1986 - Chairman [[Wojciech Jaruzelski]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/north-korea-revelations-the-polish-archives-nukes-succession-and-security|title = North Korea Revelations from the Polish Archives: Nukes, Succession and, Security &#124; Wilson Center}}</ref>
* 2007 - Vice [[Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland]] (political consultations)
* 2001 - Vice [[Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland]] (political consultations)
* 2004 - Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland (political consultations)
* 2004 - Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland (political consultations)
* 2001 - Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland (political consultations)
* 2007 - Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland (political consultations)


Korean visits to Poland:
Korean visits to Poland:


* 1956 - Premier [[Kim il Sung]]
* 1956 - Premier [[Kim Il Sung]]
* 1984 - President [[Kim il Sung]]
* 1984 - President [[Kim Il Sung]]
* 2008 - Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK (political consultations)
* 2008 - Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK (political consultations)


Line 90: Line 53:


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
{{commons cat}}
*{{cite journal|last=Levi|first=Nicolas|title=Rationalist Theory of International Relations: The Case of Relations between North Korea and Poland after 1989|url=|doi=10.15804/athena.2015.48.14|volume=48|year=2015|journal=Athenaeum: Polish Political Science Studies|issn=1505-2192|pages=207–225|doi-access=free}}
*{{cite journal|last=Levi|first=Nicolas|title=Rationalist Theory of International Relations: The Case of Relations between North Korea and Poland after 1989|doi=10.15804/athena.2015.48.14|volume=48|year=2015|journal=Athenaeum: Polish Political Science Studies|issue=4|issn=1505-2192|pages=207–225|doi-access=free}}


{{Foreign relations of North Korea}}
{{Foreign relations of North Korea}}

Latest revision as of 22:35, 11 November 2024

Poland–North Korea relations
Map indicating locations of North Korea and Poland

North Korea
Poland

Poland–North Korean relations (Korean: 뽈스까공화국-조선민주주의인민공화국관계) are foreign relations between Poland and North Korea.

Poland is one of the few countries that maintain diplomatic and limited trading (fishing) relations with Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

North Korea maintains an embassy in Warsaw, and Poland in Pyongyang. As of 2020, the North Korean ambassador is Il Choe.[1]

According to a 2013 BBC World Service Poll, only 5% of Poles view North Korea's influence positively, with 68% expressing a negative view.[2]

Overview

[edit]
North Korea's ambassador to Poland Kim Pyong-il and Undersecretary of State at the Chancellery of the President of Poland Mariusz Handzlik in Warsaw in 2010

Poland recognized the DPRK on 16 October 1948 as the sole legitimate government of the whole Korea, when both countries had Soviet-installed communist regimes. In 1989, Poland lost its status as a "friend" and its privileged position in contacts with the DPRK. Despite the change from communism to capitalism in Poland in 1989 and Poland's establishing relations with South Korea, relations between Poland and DPRK remain at a fair level.[3]

From June 1956, Poland has been part of the NNSC (Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission) named by the DPRK and Chinese Volunteers to carry out inspections and investigations as part of the armistice agreement. After Poland and Czechoslovakia ceased to be communist, the Korean People's Army took over the camps and expelled the Poles and Czechs in 1993; however, Poland continues to send representatives to commission meetings twice a year, which the NNSC regards as legitimizing its position with 75% of the original delegations intact.[4]

During the Korean War, after North Korea's request, Poland took in and offered education to 1,400 North Korean children and youth, mostly orphans.[5] They were housed in Gołotczyzna, Świder, Płakowice, Szklarska Poręba and Bardo.[6] 350 children returned to North Korea in 1956–1958, and the remainder returned in 1959 by decision of Kim Il Sung.[6] Poland also provides North Korea with small grants in farming equipment and medicine.[7]

Trade relations

[edit]

Bilateral economic contacts between Poland and the North Korea are limited, particularly due to the sanctions imposed on the North Korea by the UN Security Council and the volume of trade exchange is minimal.[8] As of 2017:[8]

  • Polish imports: €1.7 million ($1.92 million; equivalent to $2.39 million in 2023). Two-thirds of this value was plastics and electrical equipment. Main items:
    • Polyethylene: €540 thousand,
    • Yarn: €200 thousand,
    • Printing machines: €100 thousand, and
    • Batteries: €69 thousand.
  • Polish exports: €0.217 million ($0.245 million; equivalent to $0.305 million in 2023). Of the above, as much as 87.5% was resettlement-related property of Polish diplomats, while almost all the rest was equipment needed for the renovation of the Polish Embassy in Pyongyang.

The only company with Polish capital that operated in North Korea was Chopol, a now-defunct joint venture between Poland and North-Korea that dealt in the maritime transport of goods.[8] The company was established in 1987 during the era of the Soviet-installed communist government in Poland. It was liquidated in July 2018 by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs after a long period of inactivity.[8]

Diplomatic relations

[edit]
North Korean embassy in Warsaw

Poland maintains its embassy in Pyongyang and DPRK maintains its embassy in Warsaw. As of 2024, The Republic of Poland and DPRK have signed 8 bilateral treaties, 6 as the Polish People's Republic and 2 as the Republic of Poland.[9]

Official visits between the countries

[edit]

Polish visits to North Korea:

Korean visits to Poland:

  • 1956 - Premier Kim Il Sung
  • 1984 - President Kim Il Sung
  • 2008 - Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK (political consultations)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "President receives credentials from six newly appointed ambassadors to Poland". www.prezydent.pl. 10 September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  2. ^ 2013 World Service PollBBC Archived 2015-10-10 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Andrzej Bober (2008-12-30). "Polska- KRL-D, przegląd stosunków po 1989 roku". Centrum Studiów Polska - Azja (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2016-05-02.
  4. ^ Kim Hyo-Jin (9 February 2015). "At the DMZ, Swiss and Swedish soldiers keep 'peace' watch". The Korea Times. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  5. ^ Sołtysik, Łukasz (2009). "Dzieci i młodzież północnokoreańska w Polsce w latach 1953–1954 w świetle wybranych dokumentów". Rocznik Jeleniogórski (in Polish). Vol. XLI. Jelenia Góra. pp. 209–210. ISSN 0080-3480.
  6. ^ a b Sołtysik, p. 197–198
  7. ^ Zapis przebiegu posiedzenia Komisji Spraw Zagranicznych 03-04-2014, Sejm RP, https://www.sejm.gov.pl/sejm7.nsf/biuletyn.xsp?documentId=156B08DD9D458645C1257CB6004A8819
  8. ^ a b c d "Koreańska Republika Ludowo-Demokratyczna - Polska w KRLD" [Democratic People's Republic of Korea — Poland in the DPRK]. "Gov.pl" portal (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  9. ^ "Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych - Portal Gov.pl".
  10. ^ "North Korea Revelations from the Polish Archives: Nukes, Succession and, Security | Wilson Center".

Further reading

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Relations of North Korea and Poland.
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