Relationship dossier
North Korea
Philippines
Relationship assessment
Philippine sanctions enforcement shapes the relationship; North Korean conduct specifically toward the Philippines is unclear.
North Korea toward Philippines
Not assessedPhilippines toward North Korea
-25The Philippine government has enforced United Nations sanctions on North Korea, including seizing a North Korean vessel in 2016 and suspending trade with North Korea in 2017.
Overall relationship
Not assessedHow to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
The Philippines has implemented United Nations sanctions against North Korea, including action against a North Korean vessel in 2016 and suspension of trade in 2017. Information about North Korean government conduct specifically toward the Philippines is insufficient to assess that part of the relationship.
Areas of tension
- Philippine enforcement of United Nations sanctions on North Korea
- North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and Philippine support for sanctions
Key developments
The Philippines seized the North Korean-flagged cargo vessel Jin Teng under United Nations sanctions.
The Philippines suspended trade with North Korea amid implementation of United Nations sanctions.
Major uncertainties
- Details of North Korean government engagement with the Philippines are limited.
- The scope and implementation of Philippine trade restrictions are unclear.