Finland–North Korea relations

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 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 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.

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 Finland–Korea Association. Likewise, North Korea has its Korea–Finland Association. Pentecostal charity Fida International and the Finnish Red Cross operate in the country.