Poland’s diplomatic relations with North Korea date back to the very beginning of the DPRK in 1948, and for decades, their ties were defined by their joint membership in the international communist order.

But bilateral relations began to shift with the dissolution of the Soviet Union and communist bloc, and they have evolved further since Poland joined the European Union in 2004. In particular, the activation of the Lisbon Treaty signed by EU member states in Dec. 2007 has required Poland to follow EU directives on issues like North Korea’s nuclear development and human rights violations.