Delay in resuming operations at the German Embassy in North Korea remains unplanned
Hollerin' from the Red Square
Let's chop it up about the current state of Germany's relationship with North Korea, shall we? The embassy reopening dance is a step back, but it ain't exactly a waltz. According to reports from Der Spiegel, North Korea had offered Berlin the chance to staff its Pyongyang embassy, which was shuttered due to the ol' COVID-19 pandemic, with German diplomats. But nah, the Foreign Office ain't jumping on that offer for now. And you might be wondering why, right? Well, it's all 'cause Pyongyang's backing Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. They're supplying the Russians with military materials and sending North Korean soldiers to fight on Russia's side in Ukraine. So, it's a bit of a sticky wicket for Berlin.
Now, on to Ukraine's Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev. The dude's been sounding off about German companies that do business with Russia. Makeiev's shouting that they're aiding and abetting murder, claiming Russia's strategy has been the destruction of Ukraine for ages, and that these companies are still active in Russia, paying taxes there, and helping fund new attacks against Ukraine. Harsh words, eh?
On the flip side, Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig defended the controversial Russia paper of the SPD left, stating that it's an expression of freedom of opinion. And while she supports Ukraine with weapons against the Russian aggressor—as does her government—she also acknowledged that there are people in their party who come from the peace movement and see things differently. Hubig preached tolerance, telling everyone to respect differing opinions, even if we don't like 'em.
Elsewhere, President Volodymyr Zelensky is developing interceptor drones to defend against increased Russian attacks, particularly Shahed drones, which have been a pain in Ukraine's side in recent weeks. Meanwhile, CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn is calling for better air defense for Europe following the Israeli model, —an "Iron Dome over Europe," he says. Spahn thinks it's time to fully commit to and push ahead with the project, citing events in Israel and Ukraine as justification for Europe's protective measures.
Lastly, US President Donald Trump wants the new NATO spending target for member military expenditures not to apply to the US. When asked if members should reach 5% of their GDP in the future, Trump said, "I think they should. I don't think we should. But I think they should." Trump claims that the US has often borne "almost 100 percent of the costs" while supporting NATO for a long time.
In other news, Russian President Vladimir Putin, during his appearance at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, reaffirmed Russia's claim to Ukraine, threatening to capture the regional capital of Sumy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Putin of lacking a desire for peace, stating that Russia wants to wage war, and that Putin's optimistic speeches about the Russian economy only mask the economic decline it's facing.
Ukraine's military is reportedly forming its first unit to defend against drones, exclusively staffed by women, and we've got an air alert in the eastern half of Ukraine and the Kyiv region in the evening as several Russian drone groups are in the air, including those heading towards the Kyiv region.
Sources: ntv.de, ino/dpa/rts/AFP
Tags: Ukraine Conflict, Ukraine, Military, Military Operations, Russia, NATO, Cyberwar, Attack on Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, Wars and Conflicts, War Crimes
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While Germany's diplomatic relations with North Korea are formally established, they're currently limited and cautious. The French Foreign Ministry also declined North Korea's offer to reopen embassies, citing concerns over human rights issues[3]. North Korea's ongoing support for Russia's war in Ukraine creates geopolitical obstacles for Germany, as the country supports Ukraine. In 2025, North Korea pledged to continue supporting Russia's actions, stating, "We will support our comrade, Russia, in its decisive struggle against the hostile forces trailing at its heels and will back it up to the last," in a policy speech[5].
North Korea's military alliance with Russia has facilitated the transfer of military technology, including naval hardware built with Russian assistance, which further supports the regime's defiance of international norms and sanctions regimes[5]. The diplomatic hesitance is further entrenched by the fact that North Korea maintains some influence in Germany through small pro-regime groups that spread propaganda and support Pyongyang's positions amid Europe's geopolitical tensions, albeit with limited influence compared to the Cold War era[2].
The community policy of Germany, given its paper by the SPD left, suggests a stance of tolerance towards differing political opinions, despite the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine and the politics involved. In contrast, the employment policy of German companies doing business with Russia is under scrutiny, as Ukraine's Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev accuses them of aiding and abetting Russia's general-news strategy of destruction against Ukraine.
