Just how isolated is North Korea? 6 facts to consider

4. North Korea has diplomatic ties to 161 countries

Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
The flag flies at half staff at the North Korean Embassy in London, Wednesday in honor of the late leader Kim Jong Il. North Korea has embassies in 42 countries.

North Korea’s philosophy of self-reliance informs its foreign policy. However, that might not necessarily mean total isolation. North Korea has diplomatic relations with 161 countries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. North Korea has embassies in 42 of these countries.
 
Even in the difficult-to-penetrate capital of Pyongyang, some two dozen countries have resident missions including the United Kingdom and Germany. France and Estonia are the only EU countries that do not have diplomatic relations with North Korea.

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