:Finland–North Korea relations

{{Infobox bilateral relations

|title=Finland–North Korea relations

|party1=Finland

|party2=North Korea

|map=Finland North Korea Locator.png

|mission1=Embassy of Sweden, Pyongyang

|mission2 =Embassy of Finland, Seoul

|envoytitle1 =Non-resident ambassador

|envoy1 =Eero Suominen (accreditation pending)

|envoytitle2 =Non-resident ambassador

|envoy2 = Kang Yong-dok

}}

Finland–North Korea relations are bilateral relations between Finland and North Korea.

In the 1970s, Finland made a decision to have diplomatic relations with both North and South Korea. This mirrored the contemporary policy of relations with both East and West Germany. Finland extended formal diplomatic recognition to North Korea on 13 April 1973. The countries have had formal diplomatic relations since 1 June 1973. Relations were sometimes close until the 1990s, after which correspondences have significantly diminished.

North Korea had an embassy in Finland from 1978 until it closed it down in 1998 for economic reasons. North Korea maintained a fair amount of its relations with the European Union through the embassy, which made Finland one of its priorities. Kim Pyong-il, a son of the country's president, Kim Il Sung, was chosen as the last resident ambassador. This was either to highlight the importance of relations with Finland or to move him out of Pyongyang in order to prevent a power struggle with his half-brother Kim Jong Il, who succeeded Kim Il Sung. Nowadays, North Korea is represented by a non-resident ambassador in the {{ill|Embassy of North Korea, Stockholm|sv|3=Nordkoreas ambassad i Stockholm|lt=Embassy of North Korea in Stockholm}}, Sweden, who is currently Kang Yong-dok. His Finnish counterpart is Eero Suominen, although he is yet to be accredited.{{sfn|Ykkösaamu|2017|loc=23:00}}

Various diplomatic incidents have taken place over the years. In the 1970s, North Korean diplomats were found to run a smuggling ring in Finland and the other Nordic countries as part of North Korea's illicit activities to obtain foreign currencies. In 1983 the North Korean ambassador tried to bribe the Finnish prime minister Johannes Virolainen. In 2007, Finnish Customs used teargas on two North Korean diplomats who refused to cooperate.

In the 1970s, North Korea purchased two paper machines from Finland for 30 million euros. The debt has never been paid back. Trade between the two countries has been "virtually non-existent" since the 2000s.

There is a friendship association to promote Finnish–North Korean relations in Finland called {{ill|Finland–Korea Association|fi|Suomi–Korea-seura}}. Likewise, North Korea has its Korea–Finland Association. Pentecostal charity Fida International and the Finnish Red Cross operate in the country.

History

{{Quote box

|quote = Question: With how many countries does the Democratic People's Republic of Korea maintain diplomatic relations? If the Republic of Finland wants to establish diplomatic relations with your country, what would be your attitude on this matter?
Answer: The DPRK has established diplomatic relations with eleven socialist countries including the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China and is promoting friendly cooperative relations with them. In addition, the DPRK has economic and cultural relations with a number of Asian and African nations. The DPRK, which since its very inception has consistently pursued a peace-loving foreign policy, endeavours to promote friendly relations with all countries, irrespective of their social systems, in accordance with the principles of peaceful coexistence. We are ready to establish good relations with all countries which want to form friendly relations with our country.

|author = Kim Il Sung

|source = 1958{{harvnb|Kim|1983|pp=536–537}}| align = right | width = 25em| salign = right

}}

North Korea pursued relations with Finland already in the late 1950s. Finland, however, could not agree to the establishment of formal relations with a divided state of the Cold War.{{sfn|Pekkarinen|2013|p=50}} Formation of relations culminated in Finnish diplomatic recognition of North Korea on 13 April 1973,{{Cite web | title = Entering Finland and travelling abroad: North Korea | publisher = Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland | access-date = 14 May 2017 | url = http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?nodeid=17298&contentlan=2&culture=en-US}} and the establishment of formal diplomatic relations on 1 June 1973.{{sfn|Wertz|Oh|Kim|2016|p=8}} Until the 1990s, the two had sometimes close relations. In recent times, the two countries have not had important relations. The last time that political consultations were held was in 2005. Nowadays, the two countries maintain normal diplomatic relations,{{sfn|Ykkösaamu|2017|loc=24:00}} but they are not particularly close.{{Cite web | title = CMI:n Tuija Talvitie Pohjois-Korea-kokouksesta: 'Mielenkiintoista nähdä, onko kyseessä suuri show vai halu ratkaista ydinaseongelmaa' | last = Turkki | first = Kirsi | work = Aamulehti | date = 18 March 2018 | access-date = 18 March 2018 | url = https://www.aamulehti.fi/uutiset/cmin-tuija-talvitie-pohjois-korea-kokouksesta-mielenkiintoista-nahda-onko-kyseessa-suuri-show-vai-halu-ratkaista-ydinaseongelmaa-200819938/ | archive-date = 18 March 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180318165235/https://www.aamulehti.fi/uutiset/cmin-tuija-talvitie-pohjois-korea-kokouksesta-mielenkiintoista-nahda-onko-kyseessa-suuri-show-vai-halu-ratkaista-ydinaseongelmaa-200819938/ | url-status = dead }} Finland has often condemned those actions of North Korea that it perceives as threats to international peace and security.{{Cite web |title=TP-UTVA:ssa esillä Pohjois-Korean tilanne, Yhdysvallat, Suomen ja Ruotsin välinen yhteistyö sekä Puolustusvoimien viestikoekeskusta koskeva tietovuoto |publisher=Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland |date=19 December 2017 |access-date=19 February 2019 |url= https://um.fi/tiedotteet/-/asset_publisher/ued5t2wDmr1C/content/tp-utva-ssa-esilla-pohjois-korean-tilanne-yhdysvallat-suomen-ja-ruotsin-valinen-yhteistyo-seka-puolustusvoimien-viestikoekeskusta-koskeva-tietovuoto?curAsset=0&stId=47307 |language=fi }}

=Establishment of trade relations, recognition, and diplomatic relations=

{{Quote box

|quote = I wish to express to you and the government of Finland my deep thanks for the support your government has given to the policy of independent and peaceful reunification of the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the struggle of the Korean people to implement it.|author = Kim Il Sung in a letter to Urho Kekkonen

|source = 1973| align = right | width = 25em| salign = right

}}

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| image1 = Kim Il-sung Christmas card 1977 front.jpg

| image2 = Kim Il-sung Christmas card 1977 back.jpg

| footer = A Christmas card sent to President Urho Kekkonen by Kim Il Sung

}}

A bilateral trade agreement was signed on 9 October 1969,{{sfn|Kim|2003|p=xxii}} and a North Korean trade office was established in Helsinki in January 1971.{{sfn|Pekkarinen|2013|p=50}} In the 1970s, Finland maintained a prudent foreign policy toward any divided states.{{cite journal|last1=Korhonen|first1=Kristiina|last2=Kettunen|first2=Erja|title=Pohjoismaiset investoinnit Itä-Aasian tiikeritalouksissa: Kohdemaina Singapore, Hongkong, Etelä-Korea ja Taiwan|url=http://epub.lib.aalto.fi/pdf/hseother/b74.pdf#page=82|year=2006|journal=Helsingin Kauppakorkeakoulun Julkaisuja|number=B-74|language=fi|isbn=978-952-488-041-1|page=79}} Like East and West Germany, North and South Korea fell under this policy. Consequentially, Finland had to let South Korea establish a trade office in the capital as well.{{sfn|Pekkarinen|2013|p=50}} It also entailed that Finland would have to establish formal diplomatic relations with both states.{{Cite web | title = 3 x Pohjois-Korea | last = Kauhanen | first = Anna-Liina | work = Ylioppilaslehti | date = 31 March 2000 | access-date = 14 May 2017 | url = http://ylioppilaslehti.fi/2000/03/3-x-pohjois-korea/ | language = fi }} The impetus came in November 1972, when Finland recognized both German states. The following month, North Korean diplomats petitioned the Finnish government to pursue recognition of North Korea as well. Finland simultaneously recognized the two Korean states on 13 April 1973.{{sfn|Pekkarinen|2013|p=50}} Diplomatic relations with North Korea were established two months later, on 1 June and with South Korea slightly later on 24 August.{{cite book|title=Suomen diplomaattiset suhteet ulkovaltoihin 1918–1996|location=Helsinki|publisher=Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland|series=Ulkoasiainministeriön julkaisuja|year=1997|number=1|isbn=951-724-118-6|language=fi|page=65}} Finland became the second Western European country, after Sweden, to establish relations with the North. Because of the policy, however, Finland recognized South Korea later than the other Nordic countries. The Korean question continued to be addressed at the United Nations in the 1970s. Kim Il Sung apparently considered Finland to have a role to play and petitioned him twice by personal letters in 1973. In the 1970s, Finland maintained closer ties with North than South Korea. The tide began to turn in the late 1970s because of unpaid debts and diplomatic incidents.{{sfn|Pekkarinen|2013|p=53}} By the mid-1980s, Finland was favoring South Korea over the North, although Kim still described the ties as "cordial" in 1985.{{sfn|Kim|1995|p=23}} Finland was establishing an embassy in Seoul, and let North Korea know that there would be no Finnish embassy in Pyongyang until the country cleaned up its diplomatic act and paid its debts.{{Cite magazine|magazine=Suomen Kuvalehti|issn=0039-5552 |language=fi|title=Suomi tällä viikolla|date=12 July 1985 |issue=28 |page=6 }}

=Illicit activities=

In 1976, North Korean diplomats were discovered to run extensive smuggling of cigarettes, liquor, and illegal drugs in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark as part of North Korea's illicit activities to earn currency. In Finland, this included trafficking drugs and alcohol, unauthorized selling of alcohol wares purchased at diplomatic rates and attempts to sell illegal drugs. The case culminated in a major police operation and a car chase in Helsinki. Chargé d'affaires Chang Dae-hi and three other diplomats were declared persona non grata. The incident proved not only damaging to the reputation of North Korea but also put the Finnish authorities in a difficult position because North Korea still remained a diplomatic priority.{{Cite magazine|magazine=Suomen Kuvalehti|issn=0039-5552 |language=fi|last=Kyheröinen|first=Kari|title='Diplomatiaa' ja hermosotaa|date=29 October 1976 |issue=44|page=51 }}

The biggest blow to diplomatic relations took place in 1983, when the North Korean ambassador, Yu Jae-han tried to bribe the Finnish prime minister Johannes Virolainen with $5,000.{{Cite web |title=Muumiaatetta Pohjois-Koreaan |work=Aikalainen |last=Parjanen |first=Matti |date=26 January 2012 |access-date=23 August 2019 |url=https://aikalainen.uta.fi/2012/01/26/muumiaatetta-pohjois-koreaan/ |language=fi |archive-date=8 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708021442/https://aikalainen.uta.fi/2012/01/26/muumiaatetta-pohjois-koreaan/ |url-status=dead }} The incident resulted in the diplomat being announced persona non grata.{{Cite web | title = Irakilainen diplomaatti karkotettiin ei-toivottuna henkilönä| last = Mölsä | first = Jouni | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 11 April 1991 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000003058919.html | language = fi}} North Korean diplomats have also reportedly tried to sell pornography in Finland.{{Cite web | title = Diplomaatti: Pohjois-Korea kaupitellut pornoa Suomessa | agency = STT, Reuters | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 11 July 2003 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000004152912.html | language = fi}}

In 2007, North Korea issued a diplomatic note of dissatisfaction with Finland after an incident concerning two North Korean diplomats. The diplomats headed to Stockholm were aboard the train from Moscow to Helsinki when Finnish Customs officials had to use tear gas after they refused to cooperate.{{Cite web | title = Pohjois-Korea jätti Suomelle nootin| last = Nieminen |first = Tommi | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 25 February 2007 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000004464085.html | language = fi}} The men had refused to show their train tickets and their diplomatic passports lacked the appropriate annex for passing through Finland, where they had not been accredited. Only after the Finnish police had determined that there was North Korean diplomatic personnel in Finland to meet the men and escort them to Sweden was it determined that they were entitled to diplomatic immunity as passing by diplomats.{{Cite web | title = Väkivaltaiset korealaiskuriirit poistettiin junasta Kouvolassa| last = Lapintie | first = Pyry | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 17 February 2007 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000004462151.html | language = fi}} The North Korean note accused Finland of human rights violations and the diplomats being bitten by canine police.

North Korea has attempted to import dual-use technology suitable for weapons of mass destruction from Finland.{{Cite web | title = Suomesta yritetty hankkia tekniikkaa joukkotuhoaseisiin| last = Passi | first = Minna | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 9 May 2010 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000004729720.html | language = fi}}

Diplomatic representation

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North Korea maintained an embassy in Finland from 1978 until it closed it down in 1998.{{Cite web |last=Granström| first =Teemu | title = Aiempi omistaja Pohjois-Korean valtio – erikoinen myynti-ilmoitus herättää kysymyksiä| work = Iltalehti | date = 12 October 2016 | access-date = 14 May 2017 | url = https://www.iltalehti.fi/autot/a/201610110084741 | language = fi}}{{sfn|Wertz|Oh|Kim|2016|p=11}} In addition to the embassy, located at Kulosaaren puistotie 32 in the Kulosaari district of Helsinki,{{Cite web | title = Nelisenkymmentä on ottanut osaa Pohjois-Korean suruun Helsingissä| last = Karvonen | first = Pekka | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 15 July 1994 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000003349503.html | language = fi}} North Korea maintained an official residence for the ambassador, in the Tammisalo district of the capital since spring 1994.{{Cite web | title = Pohjois-Korean Helsingin-lähettiläs on kotimaassaan Presidentin nuorempi poika on "loma- ja kokousmatkalla"| last = Pentikäinen | first = Mikael | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 18 June 1994 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000003342510.html | language = fi}} The embassy was closed down "for economic reasons". The properties were sold and the embassy subsequently demolished.

The last ambassador before a temporary diplomat was Kim Il Sung's son Kim Pyong-il,{{Cite web | title = Politiikkaa lyhyesti: Pohjois-Korea lopetti lähetystönsä | last = Hämäläinen |first=Unto | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 10 April 1999 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000003791641.html | language = fi}} who had been accredited on 18 March 1994.{{Cite web | title = Pohjois-Korean lähettiläs jätti valtuuskirjansa Tutkija epäilee, että Kim on ajettu maanpakoon |last = Himma |first = Katri | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 19 March 1994 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000003317695.html | language = fi}} Kim's predecessor, Choe Sang-bom, had served for about six months, until he reportedly fell ill and left the country in December 1993.{{Cite web | title = Pohjois-Korean johtaja lähetti poikansa lähettilääksi Suomeen Kim Pyong Il jättää valtuuskirjansa Ahtisaarelle | last = Hämäläinen | first = Unto | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 13 March 1994 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000003316077.html | language = fi}} However, it could also have been that Choe was recalled for political reasons.{{sfn|Levi|2010|p=42}} Before the shutdown, North Korea used to run much of its relations with the European Union through its embassy in Finland, and the Finnish Foreign Ministry assessed that North Korea had "invested a lot" in its relations with Finland.{{Cite web | title = Pohjois-Korea vaihtoi lähettilästään Suomessa| last = Hämäläinen | first = Unto | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 17 January 1998 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000003688871.html | language = fi}} Kim Pyong-il, in particular, was thought to have been chosen as ambassador in order to raise the profile of Finnish relations. On the other hand, Kim was speculated to have been placed in Finland to be out of the way of a potential power struggle following the anticipated succession of his half-brother Kim Jong Il to the country's leadership. Kim Pyong-il was called back to Pyongyang on 22 April 1994. The departure was sudden and North Korea failed to inform the Finnish Foreign Ministry. This sparked speculation that Kim Il Sung was tormented by doubts about Kim Jong Il's ability to succeed him and maintain the Kim family regime, and that he still viewed Kim Pyong-il as a potential successor.{{sfn|Levi|2010|p=42}} Kim Il-sung died on 9 July 1994, and Kim Pyong-il returned to Helsinki as soon as the funeral was over and told the Finnish press that Kim Jong Il was designated as the successor decades before.{{sfn|Levi|2010|p=43}}

In the 1990s, Finland was a strategic partner due to its traditional role in-between Western and Eastern countries following North Korea's soured relations with major powers due to its nuclear weapons program. At the time, it was reported that North Korea had also made a set of "unrealistic" commercial proposals to Finland. Since the embassy was shut down, North Korea has maintained relations with Finland through the {{ill|Embassy of North Korea, Stockholm|sv|3=Nordkoreas ambassad i Stockholm|lt=Embassy of North Korea in Stockholm}}, Sweden. North Korea's ambassador to Sweden then acts as the non-resident ambassador to Finland and other Nordic countries.

Pak Kwang-cho was accredited as the ambassador to Finland on 22 January 2013.{{Cite web | title = North Korea Newsletter No. 247 (January 31, 2013)| agency = Yonhap | access-date = 14 May 2017 | url = http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/northkorea/2013/01/30/94/0401000000AEN20130130003800325F.HTML}} Pak, however, was called back to Pyongyang in December 2013 following the execution of his ally Jang Song-thaek. It is likely that Pak was imprisoned or executed.{{Cite web | title = N. Korea appoints new ambassador to Sweden | last = Grisafi | first = John G. | work=NK News | date = 10 September 2014 | access-date = 14 May 2017 | url = https://www.nknews.org/2014/09/n-korea-appoints-new-ambassador-to-sweden/}} The current non-resident ambassador to Finland is Kang Yong-dok.{{Cite web | title = Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Stockholm | publisher = Ministry for Foreign affairs of Finland | access-date = 14 May 2017 | url = http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=317410&contentlan=1&culture=fi-FI | language = fi}} In the North Korean Foreign Ministry, the person responsible for relations with Finland is the head of the Department of Northern Europe, with four staff members. {{As of|2017}}, the person is Pak Yun-sik. Finland is dealt with by the ministry's European Affairs Department 2.{{Cite web | title = Structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK | publisher = Ministry of Foreign Affairs DPRK | date = 2017 | access-date = 22 June 2017 | url = http://www.mfa.gov.kp/en/about-us/ | archive-date = 30 June 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200630144710/http://www.mfa.gov.kp/en/about-us/ | url-status = dead }}

Eero Suominen was appointed the ambassador to both Koreas in September 2016,{{sfn|Ykkösaamu|2017|loc=23:00}} but {{as of|2017|09}}, he is yet to leave his letter of accreditation to the North Korean government.{{sfn|Ykkösaamu|2017|loc=24:00}} The ambassador is a non-resident one in the Embassy of Finland in Seoul, South Korea. Finnish nationals in North Korea may seek urgent assistance from the {{ill|Embassy of North Korea, Stockholm|sv|3=Nordkoreas ambassad i Stockholm}}.{{Cite web |title=Ruotsilla on jo vuosikymmeniä ollut erityissuhde Pohjois-Koreaan, sanoo tutkija – ja siksi Tukholma on nyt maailmanpolitiikan valokeilassa |last=Töyrylä |first=Katriina |work=Yle Uutiset |date=15 March 2018 |access-date=22 August 2019 |url= https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10117826 |language=fi }} In the Finnish Foreign Ministry, relations with North Korea are handled by the Unit for Eastern Asia and Oceania, which is under the Department for the Americas and Asia.{{Cite web |title=Unit for Eastern Asia and Oceania |publisher=Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland |access-date=19 February 2019 |url= https://um.fi/unit-for-eastern-asia-and-oceania}}

=Former representatives=

==Finnish==

Ambassador Veli Helenius 1973–1974
Ambassador Martti Salomies 1974–1976
Ambassador Pentti Suomela 1976–1984
Ambassador Risto Hyvärinen 1984–1999
Ambassador Arto Mansala 1989–1992
Ambassador Ilkka Ristimäki 1992–

:Source:

==North Korean==

Chargé d'affaires by announcement Chog Sung-kyn 1973
Chargé d'affaires by announcement Chang Dae-hi 1973
Ambassador Han Jong-cho 1978–1979
Ambassador Yu Jae-han 1979–1983
Ambassador Li Nam-kyu 1984–1989
Ambassador Ryo Sung-chol 1990–1993
Ambassador Choe Sang-bom 1993–1994
Ambassador Kim Pyong-il 1994–1997

:Sources:{{Cite web |title=North Korea in the World |publisher=East-West Center, The National Committee on North Korea |access-date=16 December 2020 |url= https://www.northkoreaintheworld.org/home }}

Inter-parliamentary relations

{{Quote box

|quote = My understanding is that all, not just socialist countries, want to live as independent... Finland, too, wants to live as independent and that is why we are in the same position.|author = Kim Il Sung, to a delegation of Finnish MPs

|source = 1972{{harvnb|Salolainen|1973|p=12}}| align = right | width = 25em| salign = right

}}

The first parliamentary visit to North Korea took place in 1972. The delegation that was led by Veikko J. Rytkönen (SKDL) and also included Lasse Lehtinen (SDP) and Pertti Salolainen (NCP) met with President Kim Il Sung.{{sfn|Salolainen|1973|p=10}}

In 1982 MP Sakari Knuuttila (SDP) and minister Veikko Saarto (SKDL) along with former Yleisradio director-general Eino S. Repo organized a conference for the "reunification" of Korea in Espoo, Finland prompted by North Korea. A North Korean delegation arrived to the conference but since there was no South Korean representation the conference was nothing short of a North Korean propaganda event.{{cite book|last=Seppinen|first=Jukka|title=Suomettumisen syövereissä|year=2011|publisher=Docendo|location=Jyväskylä|language=fi|isbn=978-951-0-38127-4|page=64}}

In the past, a Finnish parliamentary committee, the Finnish-Korea friendship group ({{lang|fi|Suomi-Korea-ystävyysryhmä}}) was tasked with relations. The committee visited the country in 1997 to attend Day of the Sun celebrations and was heavily criticized for supporting the regime. The vice president of the committee, {{ill|Matti Vähänäkki|fi|Matti Vähänäkki}} (SDP), alluded that reports of the North Korean famine were exaggerated.{{Cite web | title = Pohjois-Koreasta palanneet kansanedustajat: Nälänhätää liioiteltu| last = Tiilikainen | first = Teppo | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 21 April 1997 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000003617555.html | language = fi}} The trip also exceeded its budget.{{Cite web | title = Eduskunnan retki Pohjois-Koreaan ylitti budjettinsa 32000 markalla| last = Hautamäki | first = Jaakko | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 8 May 1997 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000003622433.html | language = fi}}

Kim Il Sung was awarded the 75-year Anniversary Parliamentary Medal of Finland in 1981. In 1982, Kim's 70th birthday was attended by MP Veikko Saarto and Minister of Education Kalevi Kivistö (both SKDL) despite the government's intention to mark the occasion in a low-key fashion.{{Cite magazine|magazine=Suomen Kuvalehti|issn=0039-5552 |language=fi|title=Siellä kaikilla oli niin mukavaa|author=J.O.|date=7 May 1982 |issue=19 |page=16 }} Finns have gifted Kim Il Sung a reindeer pelt and a ryijy. A double cloth was gifted for Kim's 80th birthday in 1992. Kim's 80th birthday was attended by chairman of the Communist Workers' Party – For Peace and Socialism Timo Lahdenmäki and member of parliament {{ill|Pekka Leppänen|fi|Pekka Leppänen (Vasemmistoliitto)}} of the Left Alliance party.{{Cite web | title = Politiikkaa lyhyesti: Kim Il Sung sai poppanan| last = Pyykkönen | first = Anna Leena | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 28 April 1992 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000003140276.html | language = fi}} Gifts from Finland amount to more than the combined total of all other Northern European countries.{{Cite web | title = Pohjois-Korea: Cityn kesäterveiset kommunismin teemapuistosta| last = Pettersson | first = Maria | work = City | date = 3 July 2009 | access-date = 15 May 2017 | url = http://www.city.fi/ilmiot/pohjois-korea/3114 | language = fi}}

After the death of Kim Il-sung, within a week some 40 people had visited the North Korean embassy in Helsinki to express their condolences, including high-ranking government officials. Likewise, after the death of Kim Jong-il in 2011, Finnish member of parliament Kaj Turunen of the Finns Party motioned the parliament to observe a minute of silence "in remembrance of the Dear Leader Kim Jong-il",{{Cite web | title = Eduskunnan perussuomalaisten koottuja ulostuloja| last = Rantanen | first = Miska | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 21 April 2012 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000004869352.html | language = fi}} while his fellow party member Juho Eerola wished Kim Jong Un the providence of God. Both members of parliament were invited to a meeting with appreciative North Korean diplomats in Helsinki and were also invited to visit North Korea. In the past, North Korea sought to influence Finnish politicians a lot, but recent years have lacked enthusiasm.{{Cite web | title = Perussuomalaisten ylistyspuheet toivat kutsun Pohjois-Koreaan| agency = STT | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 14 March 2012 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000002523441.html | language = fi}}

Trade relations

Bilateral trade between the countries is "virtually non-existent", especially since the 2000s, with occasional spikes. For instance, Finnish imports from North Korea increased 14,000 percent from 2010 to 2011 when trade included some 3,000 North Korean television sets assembled in the Kaesong Industrial Region along with other artifacts.{{Cite web |title=Ostaisinko vaihteeksi pohjoiskorealaista? |last=Tervo |first=Matti |publisher=Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland |date=12 April 2011 |access-date=19 February 2019 |url= https://um.fi/uutiset/-/asset_publisher/GRSnUwaHDPv5/content/ostaisinko-vaihteeksi-pohjoiskorealaista-?curAsset=0&stId=47307 |language=fi }} In 2016 products worth of just 1,500 euros were exported from Finland to North Korea, while North Korean exports to Finland were valued at a little over 6,000 euros. Finland's main exports to North Korea have been cranes and dentistry equipment. A relatively high-value trade of 8,5 million euros worth of cranes to North Korea took place in 2013. In the 1970s, Finland imported mostly rice from North Korea.{{sfn|Pekkarinen|2013|p=53}}

Finland established a trade office in Pyongyang on 1 April 1974. At that time, relations were lobbied by {{ill|Metex|fi}}, an organization representing the interest of Finnish metal industries.{{sfn|Pekkarinen|2013|p=50}} It was thought that Finnish industries would get a boost from having a presence in North Korea early before Western European or other capitalist countries.{{sfn|Pekkarinen|2013|pp=50–52}} The office was fully functioning in 1975. Finnish staff actively took part in social events in the capital because failure to show up could have been interpreted as protest. At the office, the staff was concerned about possible listening devices as it was known that North Koreans had personnel who knew Finnish.{{sfn|Pekkarinen|2013|p=52}} In 1972, North Korea had ordered paper machines and other machinery from Finland for over 30 million dollars.{{sfn|Pekkarinen|2013|p=52}} Providers included Rauma-Repola, Ahlström, Tampella, and Strömberg.{{sfn|Virtanen|1977|p=40}} At the time the investment was deemed safe,{{sfn|Virtanen|1977|p=40}} but it quickly ran into many troubles.{{sfn|Väyrynen|1976|p=52}} The equipment was delivered but the payment was never made. Kim Il Sung also identified mining technology as a potential import.{{sfn|Kim|1986b|p=400}}

In the 1970s, Finland sought actively for the debt to be paid and a court of arbitration in Moscow ruled in favor of the Finnish claims.{{sfn|Virtanen|1977|p=40}} North Korea still has a debt of more than 26 million dollars to the Finnish state and 6 million to Finnish enterprises. The Finnish state has for a long time expected no repayment, but in 2017 North Korea hinted that it was willing to fulfill its obligations.{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/north_korea_owes_finland_millions_in_decades-old_debt/9588973|work=Yle News|title=North Korea owes Finland millions in decades-old debt|access-date=29 April 2017|date=29 April 2017}} The trade office remains closed.{{sfn|Pekkarinen|2013|p=53}}

Finland enacts sanctions against North Korea because of the latter's nuclear weapons program.

Non-governmental relations

{{Quote box

|quote = I should like to take this opportunity to extend my warm greetings to the Finnish communists and the working class of Finland for their active support of the righteous struggle of the Korean people to drive the US imperialist aggressors out of south Korea and reunify the country independently.|author = Kim Il Sung

|source = 1969{{harvnb|Kim|1986a|p=134}}| align = right | width = 25em| salign = right

}}

{{Quote box

|quote = In the future, the young people of Korea will continue to march forward with great force in the vanguard of the struggle for the building of socialism and communism under the leadership of our Party.

They will further strengthen the ties of friendship and solidarity with the progressive youth of the whole world, including the Finnish youth, and will always fight staunchly together with them, on the same side of the barricade in the struggle against the imperialists headed by US imperialism.|author = Kim Il Sung

|source = 1969{{harvnb|Kim|1986a|p=137}}| align = right | width = 25em| salign = right

}}

Kim Il Sung became known in Finland by the end of the Korean War. By 1952 the Communist Party of Finland published a short biography of him in its yearbook and in 1958 Kim gave an interview to Kansan Uutiset. A new interview was given when a delegation of the Democratic Youth League of Finland visited North Korea in 1969.{{Cite web | title = Presidentti Kim Il Sung ja suomalaiset | publisher = Finland–Korea Association | access-date = 2017-05-15 | url = http://www.suomikorea.net/102 | language = fi }} A committee of solidarity with North Korea was established in 1968. In 1970, the committee evolved into the Finnish-Korea Association.

The Finnish delegation to the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students in 1989 in Pyongyang was greatly reduced when the National Union of University Students in Finland canceled their planned visit, citing official remarks of North Korea that supported the violent Chinese reaction to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.{{sfn|Keisalo|1989|pp=51–52}}

There is a friendship association to promote Finnish–North Korean relations in Finland called {{ill|Finland–Korea Association|fi|Suomi–Korea-seura}}. Likewise, North Korea has its Korea–Finland Association.{{cite news| title= Pohjois-Korealla ystävyysseura Suomessa|language=fi| newspaper= Iltalehti | date = 23 January 2016|issn=0355-5461| pages=12–13}}

Several Finnish organizations have been set up since the 1960s and 1970s to study Juche.{{sfn|Jakobson|1994|p=24}} In addition to the {{ill|Finnish Society for the Study of the Juche Idea|fi|Suomen Juche-aatteen opintoyhdistys}} it has been studied by the Communist Party of Finland.{{cite book|last=Turkki|first=Teppo|title=Tiikeriportti: Korean vimma voittaa maailma|url=https://media.sitra.fi/2017/02/27052519/tiikeriportti_-_pohjois-korea-1.pdf#page=47|year=1998|publisher=Edita|location=Helsinki|language=fi|isbn=978-951-37-5662-8|page=93}} There are plaques from Finnish Juche associations from Vaasa, Jyväskylä, Joensuu, and Tampere at the Juche Tower.{{sfn|Jakobson|1994|p=24}} In the 1970s, as much as 71 propaganda works were translated to Finnish, a language spoken by relatively few people worldwide, at great expense. These were distributed to anyone having contacts with the embassy, various leftist organizations, and even Sámi people.{{Cite magazine |title=Kimin & Kekkosen aika |last=Aikio |first=Aslak |magazine=Kaltio |year=1999 |number=3 |access-date=22 August 2019 |url= http://www.kaltio.fi/vanhat/index0640.html?158 |language=fi }} Some books penned by Finnish authors are prominently distributed in North Korea.{{sfn|Jakobson|1994|p=24}}

The Finnish Pentecostal charity Fida International has worked with healthcare and potato production in North Korea since 1998. The organization is what North Koreans are most likely to know about Finland.{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9582419|title=Pohjois-Korea on valmis puhumaan 40 vuotta vanhasta velasta Suomelle – Ylen erikoishaastattelu Pjongjangissa|access-date=29 April 2017|date=26 April 2017|work=Yle Uutiset|last=Mäkeläinen|first=Mika|language=fi}} One Finnish family of expatriates working for Fida lives in North Korea.{{Cite web | title = Pohjois-Korean ainoa suomalaisperhe auttaa paikallisia viljelemään perunaa: Tällaista on joensuulaisten pitkästen elämä suljetussa diktatuurissa | last = Pajari | first = Katariina | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 8 May 2017 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000005200830.html | language = fi }} The Finnish Red Cross also operates in the country,{{Cite web |title=Pohjois-Korean näkymätön nälkä |last=Tervo |first=Matti |work=Maailma.net |publisher=Finnish OneWorld association |date=3 May 2011 |access-date=19 February 2019 |url= https://www.maailma.net/uutiset/pohjois-korean-nakymaton-nalka |language=fi }} in the field of preventing flood and drought damage.{{Cite web |title=Suomen Punainen Risti/ Pohjois-Korea |publisher=Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland |date=16 August 2017 |access-date=19 February 2019 |url=https://um.fi/rahoituskohteet-alueet/-/asset_publisher/DMn5FBMNHdp0/ahaKytInterventionType/id/1159214?_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_DMn5FBMNHdp0_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fum.fi%2Frahoituskohteet-alueet%3Fp_p_id%3Dcom_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_DMn5FBMNHdp0%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_DMn5FBMNHdp0_cur%3D2%26_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_DMn5FBMNHdp0_delta%3D100%26p_r_p_resetCur%3Dfalse%26_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_DMn5FBMNHdp0_assetEntryId%3D1159214 |language=fi |archive-date=19 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919173152/https://um.fi/rahoituskohteet-alueet/-/asset_publisher/DMn5FBMNHdp0/ahaKytInterventionType/id/1159214?_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_DMn5FBMNHdp0_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fum.fi%2Frahoituskohteet-alueet%3Fp_p_id%3Dcom_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_DMn5FBMNHdp0&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_DMn5FBMNHdp0_cur=2&_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_DMn5FBMNHdp0_delta=100&p_r_p_resetCur=false&_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_DMn5FBMNHdp0_assetEntryId=1159214 |url-status=dead }}

A Finnish poll found that North Korea is the second least desirable foreign country that Finns would move to, after Russia.{{Cite web | title = Venäjälle ei haluta muuttaa | work = Karjalainen | date = 17 June 2012 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.karjalainen.fi/uutiset/uutis-alueet/kotimaa/item/8024-venajalle-ei-haluta-muuttaa | language = fi }}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Three Finnish travel agencies – Olympia, Mandala Travel, and Travel Oy – arrange tourist trips to North Korea,{{Cite web | title = Suomesta pääsee yhä matkalle Pohjois-Koreaan| last = Halminen | first = Laura | work = Helsingin Sanomat | date = 9 April 2013 | access-date = 13 May 2017 | url = http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000002630794.html | language = fi }} although the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs cautions against unnecessary travel to the country.{{Cite web |title=Pohjois-Korea: matkustustiedote |publisher=Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland |date=27 December 2018 |access-date=19 February 2019 |url= https://um.fi/matkustustiedote/-/c/KP |language=fi }}

North Korean exchange students have sought to study in Finland, but the Finnish Foreign Ministry has refused their entry,

{{sfn|Toimela|Aalto|2017|p=40}} although a small group of dentistry students has been on a study trip.{{sfn|Toimela|Aalto|2017|p=141}}

References

=Works cited=

{{Cite magazine|magazine=Suomen Kuvalehti|issn=0039-5552|language=fi|title=Pysähtynyt valtakunta|last= Jakobson|first= Linda |date=4 November 1994|issue=44 |pages=18–25 }}
{{Cite magazine|title=Matkaopas: Ei nyt sentään minne tahansa! |last=Keisalo |first=Paavo |magazine=Suomen Kuvalehti |date=11 August 1989 |issue=32 |pages=50–52 |issn=0039-5552 |language=fi}}
{{cite book|last=Kim|first=Ilpyong J.|title=Historical Dictionary of North Korea|year=2003|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=Lanham|pages=xvii–xliii|isbn=0-8108-4331-5|chapter=Chronology}}
{{cite book|last=Kim|first=Il-sung|author-mask=Kim Il-sung|title=Kim Il Sung: Works|volume=12|year=1983|orig-year=1958|location=Pyongyang|publisher=Foreign Languages Publishing House|oclc=827642144|chapter=Answers to Questions Put by the Correspondent of a Finnish Newspaper|chapter-url=http://www.korean-books.com.kp/KBMbooks/en/work/leader1/00000541.pdf#page=544|pages=535–537}}
{{cite book|last=Kim |first=Il-sung|author-mask=Kim Il-sung|title=Kim Il Sung: Works|volume=24|year=1986a|orig-year=1969|location=Pyongyang|publisher=Foreign Languages Publishing House|oclc=827642144|chapter=Answers to Questions Raised by the Delegation of the Democratic Youth League of Finland for the Kansan Uutiset, Central Organ of the Communist Party of Finland|chapter-url=http://www.korean-books.com.kp/KBMbooks/en/work/leader1/00000554.pdf#page=127|pages=121–141}}
{{cite book|last=Kim|first=Il-sung|author-mask=Kim Il-sung|title=Kim Il Sung: Works|volume=28|year=1986b|orig-year=1973|location=Pyongyang|publisher=Foreign Languages Publishing House|oclc=827642144|chapter=Talk to the Delegation of the Denmark–Korea Cooperative Relations Promotion Committee|chapter-url=http://www.korean-books.com.kp/KBMbooks/en/work/leader1/00000558.pdf#page=404|pages=396–410}}
{{cite book|last=Kim|first=Il-sung|author-mask=Kim Il-sung|title=Kim Il Sung: Works|volume=39|year=1995|orig-year=1985|location=Pyongyang|publisher=Foreign Languages Publishing House|oclc=827642144|chapter=Talk to the Delegation of the Communist Party of Portugal|chapter-url=http://www.korean-books.com.kp/KBMbooks/en/work/leader1/00000582.pdf#page=18|pages=10–23}}
{{cite journal|last=Levi|first=Nicolas|year=2010|title=A Biography of Kim Pyong Il: The Second Dauphin?|pages=33–47|journal=Parallax|volume=VII|number=1|issn=1353-4645}}
{{Cite magazine|magazine=Suomen Kuvalehti|issn=0039-5552 |language=fi|title=Lyhyt onni|last=Pekkarinen|first=Jussi|date=13 September 2013 |issue=37 |pages=50–53 }}
{{Cite magazine|magazine=Suomen Kuvalehti|issn=0039-5552 |language=fi|title=Pohjois-Korea ja hänen suuri ja rakastettu johtajansa Kim Il Sung|last=Salolainen|first=Pertti|date=19 January 1973 |issue=3 |pages=10–12 }}
{{cite book|last1=Toimela|first1=Markku|last2=Aalto|first2=Kaj|title= Salakahvilla Pohjois-Koreassa : Markku Toimelan jännittävä tie Pohjois-Korean luottomieheksi|year=2017|publisher=Docendo|location=Jyväskylä|language=fi|isbn=978-952-291-369-2}}
{{Cite magazine|magazine=Suomen Kuvalehti|issn=0039-5552 |language=fi|title=Suomi rynnii nyt Etelä-Koreaan|last=Virtanen|first=Rauli|date=23 December 1977 |issue=51–52 |pages=40–41 }}
{{cite book|last=Väyrynen|first=Raimo|editor-last=Tuomi|editor-first=Helena|title=Suomi ja kolmas maailma|year=1976|publisher=Gummerus|location=Jyväskylä|language=fi|isbn=951-20-1314-2|pages=49–85|chapter=Suomen ja kehitysmaiden taloudelliset suhteet}}
{{Cite book|last1=Wertz|first1=Daniel|last2=Oh|first2=JJ|last3=Kim|first3=Insung|date=August 2016|title=Issue Brief: DPRK Diplomatic Relations|publisher=The National Committee on North Korea|url=http://www.ncnk.org/resources/publications/NCNK_Issue_Brief_DPRK_Diplomatic_Relations.pdf#9|access-date=19 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228074114/http://www.ncnk.org/resources/publications/NCNK_Issue_Brief_DPRK_Diplomatic_Relations.pdf#9|archive-date=28 December 2016}}
{{Cite web | title = Suurlähettiläs kahdessa Koreassa | publisher = Yle Radio 1| work = Ykkösaamu | date = 21 August 2017 | access-date = 9 September 2017 | url = https://areena.yle.fi/1-4172744?autoplay=true | language = fi | ref={{SfnRef|Ykkösaamu|2017}}}}

External links

[https://um.fi/representation-of-foreign-states-in-finland-or-in-the-nearest-country-to-finland/-/asset_publisher/eSWq5XE6v1DV/contactInfoOrganization/id/123262 North Korean embassy in Stockholm]
[https://um.fi/pakotteet-maittain/-/asset_publisher/4MioQZzZJNVo/content/pohjois-korea-pakotteet/385142?curAsset=0&stId=47307 Sanctions on North Korea] at Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland {{in lang|fi}}
[https://um.fi/documents/-/asset_publisher/caSu4obBG5lW/content/pohjois-korea-matkustusasiakirjat-suomeen/385107?p_p_auth=F3THkbqp&curAsset=0&stId=47307 Travel documents when entering Finland from North Korea] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919173107/https://um.fi/documents/-/asset_publisher/caSu4obBG5lW/content/pohjois-korea-matkustusasiakirjat-suomeen/385107?p_p_auth=F3THkbqp&curAsset=0&stId=47307 |date=19 September 2023 }} at Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
[https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/north-korea-pyongyang/ Swedish embassy in Pyongyang]
[http://www.suomikorea.net/ Finland–Korea Association] {{in lang|fi}}
[https://www.jucheaate.com/english Finnish Society for the Study of the Juche Idea]
[https://finlandabroad.fi/web/prk/frontpage North Korea] at Finland Abroad
[http://uljas.tulli.fi/graph/style/tulli/maaraportti.aspx?lang=en&rind=117 Country report] at Finnish Customs
[https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/search-results/1/%7B%22subject%22%3A%222032%22%7D Documents] at the Wilson Center Digital Archive

Finland

Korea, North

:Finland–North Korea relations

History

=Establishment of trade relations, recognition, and diplomatic relations=

=Illicit activities=

Diplomatic representation

=Former representatives=

==Finnish==

==North Korean==

Inter-parliamentary relations

Trade relations

Non-governmental relations

See also

References

=Works cited=

Further reading

External links