Libya–North Korea relations: Difference between revisions

'''Libya–North Korea relations''' ({{lang-ko|리비아-조선민주주의인민공화국 관계}}, {{lang-ar|العلاقات بين ليبيا وكوريا الشمالية}}) are relations between [[North Korea]] and [[Libya]]. North Korea established formal diplomatic relations with [[Muammar Gaddafi]] regime in Libya in 1974. The North Korean government maintains an embassy in [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]]. In the 1970s and 1980s, the Libyan government under Muammar Gaddafi established close ties with the North Korean government and purchased a significant amount of North Korea's weaponry.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nknews.org/2015/01/north-korea-and-libya-friendship-through-artillery/|title=North Korea and Libya: friendship through artillery|last1=Oliemans|first1=Joost|date=5 January 2015|work=[[NK News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614122836/https://www.nknews.org/2015/01/north-korea-and-libya-friendship-through-artillery/|archive-date=14 June 2016|url-status=dead|last2=Mitzer|first2=Stijn|access-date=8 June 2016}}</ref>

=== 1974-20111974–2011: Military-nuclear cooperation ===

From 1974 until 2011, relations between the two States were marked by a cordial understanding, North Korea in particular supplying the Libya with [[uranium hexafluoride]], a compound used for the enrichment of [[uranium]] and fuel for [[nuclear reactor|nuclear reactors]]s and [[nuclear weapon|nuclear weapons]]s according to a [[The Pentagon]] report.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/10/24/2011102400780.html|title=Gadhafi's Death Is Bad News for N.Korea|newspaper=Chosun|date=24 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=454911&catid=37|title=North Korea provided Libya with N-material, says Pentagon|newspaper=The Statesman|date=3 May 2013}}</ref>

A number of North Korean workers were also present in the country. North Korean exports to Libya included military equipment such as [[Scud missile|Scud]]- C missiles]] with a range of 550km.<ref name="GlobalSecurity">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/libya/missile.htm|title=Libyan Missiles|website=GlobalSecurity.org}}</ref> Libyan government is also in favor of the acquisition of [[Rodong -1 ([[Hwasong-7]]) medium[[Medium-range ballistic missilesmissile]]s and even long-range missiles from North Korea due to the arms embargo imposed by the [[United Nations]], in order to to use them against possible the [[United States]] and [[NATO]] targets in the event of Western threats.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.wisconsinproject.org/countries/nkorea/north-korea-missile-exports.html|title=North Korean Missile Exports|journal=The Risk Report|volume=2|issue=6|date=NovemberNovember–December 1996|access-date=19 December 19962021|archive-date=16 September 2016|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20160916001648/http://www.wisconsinproject.org/countries/nkorea/north-korea-missile-exports.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The United States officials then denounce a "cooperation between North Korea and Libya". North Korea was indeed one of the most important arms suppliers to the [[History of Libya under Muammar Gaddafi|Libyan Arab Jamahiriya]], along with the [[Soviet Union]].

On 19 December 2003, Libya finally agreed to end its [[weapon of mass destruction]] program, destroy its ballistic missiles with a range of over 300km / 500kg500&nbsp;kg payload and authorize immediate inspections of the United Nations.<ref name="GlobalSecurity" />

In 2011, as the [[First Libyan Civil War]] broke out, North Korean conventional weapons were found by rebels from the [[National Transitional Council]], including rockets, [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft warfares]]s and [[Land mine|anti-personnel mines]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2011/03/30/spotted-nk-arms-in-libya/|title=Spotted: NK Arms in Libya|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=30 March 2011}}</ref> On 24 March 2011, North Korean government suggested to Libya in a statement that "it should have kept its nuclear program."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/world/asia/25korea.html?_r=0|title=North Korea Suggests Libya Should Have Kept Nuclear Program|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=24 March 2011}}</ref> The dismantling of Libyan weapons of mass destruction has indeed made possible the military intervention of NATO according to some analysts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.antiwar.com/2013/02/21/north-korea-nato-war-in-libya-proves-disarming-is-unwise/|title=North Korea: NATO War in Libya Proves Disarming Is Unwise|website=Antiwar.com|date=21 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/09/03/north-korean-nuclear-weapons-lessons-from-libya/|title=North Korean nuclear weapons: Lessons from Libya|website=East Asia Forum|date=3 September 2011}}</ref> On 12 May 2011, the North Korean embassy in Tripoli was reportedly damaged in a NATO raid targeting a nearby Libyan military complex.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mathaba.net/news/?x=626721|title=NATO Attacks North Korea's Embassy in Tripoli, Libya|newspaper=Mathaba|date=12 May 2011}}</ref> NATO refuted shortly after targeting the embassy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.brecorder.com/world/southeast-asia/14093-nato-rejects-tripoli-strike-targeted-north-korea-embassy.html|title=NATO rejects Tripoli strike targeted North Korea embassy|newspaper=Business Recorder|date=12 May 2011|access-date=19 December 2021|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923230717/http://www.brecorder.com/world/southeast-asia/14093-nato-rejects-tripoli-strike-targeted-north-korea-embassy.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

North Korea has not recognized the authority of the rebels<ref>{{cite news|url=httphttps://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/08/116_93828.html|title=North Korea yet to recognize Libya’s rebel NTC|date=30 August 2011}}</ref> and has banned its nationals working in Libya (around 200) from returning to North Korea for fear of the popular revolt spreading.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/8852120/North-Korea-bans-citizens-working-in-Libya-from-returning-home.html|title=North Korea bans citizens working in Libya from returning home|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=27 October 2011}}</ref>