North Korean art sells in China despite UN sanctions over nuclear programme

North Korea Closes , Several Global Embassies. North Korea is shuttering up to a dozen embassies around the world, NBC News reports. Closing up to 25% of its diplomatic missions is an indicator that the country is having a difficult time making money overseas due to international sanctions, according to South Korea's unification ministry. . They appear to be withdrawing as their foreign currency earning business has stumbled due to the international community’s strengthening of sanctions, making it difficult to maintain the embassies any longer, South Korea's unification ministry, via statement. This can be a sign of North Korea’s difficult economic situation, where it is difficult to maintain even minimal diplomatic relations with traditionally friendly countries, South Korea's unification ministry, via statement. According to Seoul’s unification ministry, North Korea previously maintained 53 diplomatic missions overseas. North Korea also "has formal relations with 159 countries," NBC News reports. Among the North Korean embassies that will close are those in Spain, Hong Kong and several African countries. The country's Madrid embassy garnered attention in 2019 when a group opposing Kim Jong Un broke in and stole various technology. . At the time, Pyongyang called the altercation a "grave breach of sovereignty and terrorist attack.". It also accused America of "refusing to extradite its leader," NBC News reports. . It also accused America of "refusing to extradite its leader," NBC News reports.