Relationship dossier
North Korea
United Kingdom
Relationship assessment
Diplomatic ties persist amid sanctions, nuclear tensions and cyber-security concerns.
North Korea toward United Kingdom
-40North Korea has pursued cyber operations attributed to it that affected the United Kingdom, including the 2017 WannaCry attack. Its nuclear and missile programs have also been a recurring source of confrontation with the UK government.
United Kingdom toward North Korea
-40The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on North Korea and repeatedly criticized its nuclear and missile programs and human-rights record, while maintaining diplomatic relations.
Overall relationship
-35The relationship combines continued diplomatic channels with sustained security and human-rights disputes. UK sanctions and criticism of North Korea’s weapons programs, alongside cyber operations attributed to North Korea affecting the UK, give the relationship a predominantly adversarial character.
How 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
North Korea and the United Kingdom maintain diplomatic relations, but their relationship is substantially adversarial. The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions and criticized North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and human-rights record. North Korea has pursued cyber operations attributed to it that affected the United Kingdom, including the 2017 WannaCry attack. Diplomatic channels have persisted, but they have not prevented recurring security and human-rights disputes.
Areas of tension
- North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic-missile programs
- United Kingdom sanctions on North Korea
- North Korea’s human-rights record
- Cyber operations attributed to North Korea affecting the United Kingdom
Key developments
The United Kingdom and North Korea established diplomatic relations.
The WannaCry ransomware attack affected the United Kingdom; North Korea was widely attributed responsibility for the operation.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of ongoing diplomatic engagement and the status of practical bilateral cooperation are unclear.
- Details of North Korea’s decision-making and responsibility for cyber operations affecting the United Kingdom remain uncertain.