ISSUE
Friday, August 22, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 73
Fiji's military regime has opened a diplomatic office in North Korea, the world's most closed state.
As it is the first Pacific nation to open an office in the Stalinist state it is likely to have strategic implications for a region already witnessing Chinese economic and political expansion.
The new ties will cause concern in Canberra and Wellington, but there is no indication of whether North Korea will open an office in Suva.
The Fiji regime, in a statement, said Commodore Esala Teleni had presented his credentials in Pyongyang to the chairman of the assembly, Kim Yong-nam.
Kim holds a figurehead post; the country is ruled by Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un.
Teleni, a former captain of Fiji’s national rugby team, was head of the Fiji Navy division in 2006 when his Fiji Military chief Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama overthrew a democratic government. He was later appointed police commissioner.
In a joint statement, North Korea said it was promoting relations of economic, social and political co-operation with different countries under the ideals of independence, peace and friendship.
Kim said he had closely followed developments in Fiji.
"Mr Kim stressed that joint co-operation through increased high-level visits, dialogue and exchanges was inevitable for generating opportunities and strengthening bilateral relations between Fiji and (North Korea)," the statement said.
Teleni extended his gratitude to North Korea "for accepting Fiji as a sovereign state".
The statement said Teleni also briefed Kim on "Fiji's commitment to its Look North Policy, Fiji's membership of Non-Aligned Movement, (Fiji's) Government's Roadmap to Democracy and to the upcoming general election in 2014".
Fiji's military regime has opened a diplomatic office in North Korea, the world's most closed state. As it is the first Pacific nation to open an office in the Stalinist state it is likely to have strategic implications for a region already witnessing Chinese economic and political expansion.
...
Fiji's military regime has opened a diplomatic office in North Korea, the world's most closed state.
As it is the first Pacific nation to open an office in the Stalinist state it is likely to have strategic implications for a region already witnessing Chinese economic and political expansion.
The new ties will cause concern in Canberra and Wellington, but there is no indication of whether North Korea will open an office in Suva.
The Fiji regime, in a statement, said Commodore Esala Teleni had presented his credentials in Pyongyang to the chairman of the assembly, Kim Yong-nam.
Kim holds a figurehead post; the country is ruled by Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un.
Teleni, a former captain of Fiji’s national rugby team, was head of the Fiji Navy division in 2006 when his Fiji Military chief Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama overthrew a democratic government. He was later appointed police commissioner.
In a joint statement, North Korea said it was promoting relations of economic, social and political co-operation with different countries under the ideals of independence, peace and friendship.
Kim said he had closely followed developments in Fiji.
"Mr Kim stressed that joint co-operation through increased high-level visits, dialogue and exchanges was inevitable for generating opportunities and strengthening bilateral relations between Fiji and (North Korea)," the statement said.
Teleni extended his gratitude to North Korea "for accepting Fiji as a sovereign state".
The statement said Teleni also briefed Kim on "Fiji's commitment to its Look North Policy, Fiji's membership of Non-Aligned Movement, (Fiji's) Government's Roadmap to Democracy and to the upcoming general election in 2014".
Leave a Comment