The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that evidence of smuggling in the North Korean Embassy in Oslo is "incontrovertible" and the decision to expel embassy personnel "fully justified."
October 23, 1976
Note from the Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Oslo to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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The Embassy of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in Oslo
Oslo, 23, October 1976
The Embassy of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea presents its compliments to the ministry of Foreign Affairs of the government of the Kingdom of Norway and expresses its regret at the fact that on the 18th of October last, the government of the Kingdom of Norway requested the members of the Embassy of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to leave Norway saying that they conducted illegal commercial transaction in violation of the order of municipal law in Norway.
This is an unexpected thing and a behavior to impair the friendly relation between our two countries.
The government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has established the diplomatic relation and opened its embassy in Oslo with a view to develop the friendly relation between the two countries, Korea and Norway.
The Embassy of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in Norway has been invariably endeavouring in order to develop the friendly relation between our two countries in conformity with the interest of the peoples of our two countries on the basis of the consistent peace-loving foreign policy of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
We always respect the order of law of your country and have only acted within the limit of being allowed under the diplomatic privilege and immunity and never acted in violation of the law.
Nevertheless, it is much regretful that the government of Norway took unilateral step to withdraw the members of our Embassy.
The Norwegian government will bear the responsibility for harmful influence to be exerted on the relation between the two countries in the future owing to the unjustified step taken by the Norwegian government.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew the ministry of Foreign Affairs of the government of the Kingdom of Norway the highest consideration.
North Korea objects to the expulsion of North Korean embassy personnel from Norway and denies that any illegal smuggling took place.
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Dossier 14.1/45, 1970-1979, Archives Section, Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway. Obtained by Charles Kraus.
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2017-03-28
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