North Korea's Global Embassies Shut Down as Financial Crisis Looms

North Korea is closing down several of its embassies around the world, including in Nepal, Spain, Angola, Uganda, and Hong Kong, leading to suspicions of an ongoing financial crisis. South Korean experts believe that the closures indicate a deteriorating financial situation for North Korea, as their efforts to obtain foreign currency have been hindered by strengthened sanctions. Diplomats who have defected from the country claim that North Korean embassies are largely funded by illegal activities. Meanwhile, North Korea is focusing on building relations with Russia and China.