The British ambassador to North Korea is head of the United Kingdom's diplomatic mission to North Korea. The official title is His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).Gowman, Philip. "Three ambassadors—or maybe four? Korea Update with the Anglo-Korean Society," London-Korea links. 18 June 2010; Anglo-Korean Society event, 8 July 2010. The current ambassador is Simon Wood, who has held the role since September 2025.

History Under the Imperial Chinese tributary system, Korea was a tributary state to China. After the United Kingdom–Korea Treaty of 1883 British Ministers to China were appointed as "Her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the Emperor of China, and also Her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the King of Corea." Britain also appointed consuls-general to be resident in Seoul, but they were not heads of mission, as the head of mission was the minister in Peking (now Beijing). In 1898, following the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–95), the Korean Empire became independent of China, and Britain appointed a chargé d'affaires who became Minister Resident when the United Kingdom and Korea exchanged envoys in 1901.

Consul-General in Seoul 1884–1885: William George Aston 1889–1896: Walter HillierAddison, Henry Robert. (1901). ; compare Note 12 1896-1898: John JordanKit-ching Chan Lau, Anglo-Chinese Diplomacy 1906–1920: In the Careers of Sir John Jordan and Yuan Shih-kai, Hong Kong University Press, 1978

Head of mission to Korea

Minister to China, non-resident Minister to Korea 1884–1885: Sir Harry Smith Parkes 1885–1892: Sir John Walsham, 2nd Baronet 1892–1895: Sir Nicholas O'Conor 1896–1898: Sir Claude MacDonald

Chargé d'affaires 1898–1901: John Jordan

Minister Resident 1901–1905: Sir John Jordan

Under the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905 Korea became a protectorate of Japan, and Britain and other countries withdrew diplomatic missions from Seoul. After World War II Japan's rule ended and Korea was occupied by the Soviet Union and United States, resulting in division of Korea between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

Head of mission to North Korea After Britain and North Korea re-established diplomatic relations in 2000, James Hoare was appointed British Chargé d'affaires in Pyongyang; and his work laid the foundation for the establishment of a full embassy in the North Korean capital.

The British Embassy in Pyongyang opened in July 2001. David Slinn was the first British Ambassador; he arrived in Pyongyang in November 2002.Foreign& Commonwealth Office (FCO); Korea, DPR (North Korea), Diplomatic representation

Chargé d'affaires in North Korea James Hoare, 2001–2002

Ambassador to North Korea Name Tenurebegins Tenureends British monarch Supreme leaderDavid Slinn20022006Elizabeth IIKim Jong-ilJohn EverardStanford University, Korean Studies, Everard bio 20062008Peter Hughes"Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" – Foreign & Commonwealth Office press release, 27 September 201020082011Karen Wolstenholme20112012Kim Jong-unMichael Gifford"Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" – Foreign & Commonwealth Office press release, 25 June 201220122015Alastair Morgan20152018Colin Crooks20182022David Ellis20222025 Charles IIISimon Wood2025

See also Embassy of the United Kingdom, Pyongyang List of diplomatic missions of the United Kingdom List of diplomatic missions in North Korea List of ambassadors of the United Kingdom to South Korea

Notes

References Korean Mission to the Conference on the Limitation of Armament, Washington, D.C., 1921–1922. (1922). Korea's Appeal to the Conference on Limitation of Armament. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 12923609

External links UK and North Korea, gov.uk