China and North Korea: A Swedish Perspective

Open seminar hosted by the Institute of International Affairs and the Swedish Embassy in Iceland, November 6 from 12:00-13:30 at the Nordic House

Sweden was the first western country to establish official diplomatic relations with China, which took place already in 1950. For that occasion, chairman Mao Zedong decided to personally receive the Swedish ambassador. Additionally, Sweden is one of few countries in the world that has an embassy in North Korea but the states have strong bilateral diplomatic relations dating back to early 1970s. For instance, Gören Persson, Sweden’s former Prime Minister, was the first Western leader in history to visit North Korea. This long-term commitment in North Korea has made Sweden’s relations to North Korea exceptional, particularly among Western nations, which has resulted in Sweden becoming a liaison for other more powerful states, e.g. the United States.

During this open seminar hosted by the Institute of International Affairs and the Swedish Embassy in Iceland, Captain Mats Fogelmark will share his experience from working in China and the Korean Peninsula. From 2014-2017, Fogelmark served as the Swedish Defense Attaché at the Embassies of Sweden in China and in North Korea. Currently, he serves as the Swedish Defense Attaché at the Embassies of Sweden in Norway, Denmark and Iceland.

Welcoming remarks by Håkan Juhult, Sweden’s Ambassador to Iceland

Moderator: Magnús Björnsson, Director of the Northern Lights Confucius Institute

The seminar is in English and is open to all