North Korea to open embassy in Venezuela

SEOUL, June 25 (UPI) -- North Korea is planning to open an embassy in Venezuela, having recently received approval from the Venezuelan government to do so.

It would be North Korea's first embassy in Venezuela since diplomatic relations began in 1974. To date, the North Korean ambassador to Cuba has represented North Korean interests in Venezuela.

North Korea maintains a trade office in the capital city of Caracas that was opened in 1991 and closed briefly in 1999 before reopening in 2000.

North Korea and Venezuela, both with anti-U.S. foreign policies, are on friendly diplomatic terms.