Choe Ryong-hae, chairman of the North's parliamentary standing committee, right, receives credentials from newly appointed Swedish Ambassador Andreas Bengtsson in Pyongyang, in this photo provided by the Korean Central News Agency, Nov. 21, 2024. Yonhap

Switzerland's top envoy to North Korea has begun his duties after submitting his credentials to Choe Ryong-hae, chairman of the North's parliamentary standing committee, according to the North's state media Friday.

Choe was presented with credentials from Jurg Burri, Switzerland's ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to North Korea, at Mansudae Assembly Hall on Thursday on behalf of state leader Kim Jong-un, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

Choe and the ambassador had talks, which were also attended by Kim Son-kyong, North Korea's vice foreign minister, and officials from the Swiss Embassy, the KCNA said.

North Korea and Switzerland hosted an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations at the North Korean Embassy in Switzerland last month.

In September last year, Sweden reinstated its diplomats to its embassy in North Korea, becoming the first Western country to do so since COVID-19 border controls in 2020 led to the withdrawal of most foreign diplomats from the country.

With Poland reopening its embassy in Pyongyang in November, Switzerland has become the third Western nation to reinstate its embassy in the country, as more Western embassies appear to be preparing to resume operations.

Only a few countries with close ties to North Korea, such as China, Russia, Mongolia and Cuba, had been operating their embassies in the North with limited capacities since border controls were lifted in August 2023.

According to the South Korean unification ministry, 16 foreign embassies were operating in North Korea as of recently, including those from Brazil, Iran, India, Nigeria and Nicaragua.

Switzerland does not operate an embassy in North Korea, as its ambassador to China doubles as the envoy to North Korea. (Yonhap)