In 1997, Cambodia established diplomatic relations with South Korea, enabling Cambodia to strengthen its diplomatic, economic and political relations. However, Cambodia also showed its intentions to maintain relations with North Korea.

Following Prime Minister Hun Manet’s official May visit to South Korea, Jean-Fancois Tain, minister delegate attached to the Prime Minister for foreign affairs, provided a briefing of the prime minister’s trip, in which he reiterated that Cambodia’s excellent relations with Seoul do not mean that the Kingdom is opposed to North Korea.

Cambodia’s desire to maintain good relations with both Koreas is exemplified by Manet’s recent meeting with South Korean ambassador Park Jung-wook and subsequent meeting with North Korean ambassador Jang Yun Gon in Cambodia. Manet’s meeting with the North Korean diplomat drew significant attention as it was the first such meeting within the last eight years.

Cambodia’s relations with Pyongyang are generally based on tradition, as they share no mutual interests, whether economic, political or diplomatic.

Following the reinforcement of sanctions on North Korea by the UN Security Council in 2019, Cambodia ceased its cooperation with North Korea. 

The last cooperative project between the two countries was the Angkor Pandora Museum in Cambodia’s Siem Reap province, which was financed and built by North Korea. Cambodia shut it down in 2020.

At present, there is no trade record between the two countries, implying that North Korea could become a liability to Cambodia’s image in the international arena if it were to decide to strengthen bilateral relations with the Hermit Kingdom. The North Korean regime is known for its aggressive international relations and appalling record of human rights violations.

For this reason, most of North Korea’s key allies have already turned away from the Pyongyang regime. For instance, in February this year, Cuba established diplomatic relations with South Korea, North Korea’s primary adversary. 

Cuba’s action was widely considered a “political and psychological” blow to North Korea. The establishment of relations was driven by increasing economic cooperation and people-to-people relations between Seoul and Havana.

Ment’s August 20 meeting with Jang Yun Gon was more symbolic than practical, occurring as the two nations celebrated the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The North Korean ambassador reiterated the long-standing diplomatic relations that were established between the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Kim Il-sung. Unsurprisingly, while Manet urged the ambassador to work collaboratively with Cambodia’s foreign ministry, there was no mention of specific cooperation between the two.

Cambodia’s relations with North Korea could worsen in the near future should Pyongyang continue to violate international law and pursue its course of aggressive actions. These actions are contrary to Cambodia’s stance, as it has committed to following international laws and norms. Cambodia’s condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, regardless of Cambodia’s close relations with Moscow, is an indication of Cambodia’s commitment to comply with the international law. 

A spokesperson from the Kingdom’s foreign ministry reiterated that Cambodia has complied with the UN Security Council resolution by shutting down North Korean businesses in Cambodia.

In contrast, Cambodia’s relations with South Korea are firmly based on mutual interest and cooperation. 

Hun Manet’s meeting with the ambassador from Seoul will pave the way for closer cooperation and understanding between the two countries. Prior to meeting with Manet, Jung-wook met with Senate president Hun Sen and discussed the bilateral relations between the two countries. Hun Sen also shared that he participated in the World Knowledge Forum in Seoul, and will be awarded an honorary doctorate in Seoul. The effort reflects South Korea’s acknowledgement of Hun Sen’s efforts to bring peace and stability to the Kingdom. This is something which Seoul aims to achieve as it is still struggling to unite the peninsula. 

During Manet’s May official visit, the relations between the two countries reached a “strategic partnership”, resulting in the strengthening of relations in various fields including economic, political and tourism. 

As Seoul’s representative in Cambodia, the South Korean embassy in Cambodia plays a crucial role in pioneering dialogue and cooperation between the two. The recent meeting between Hun Manet and the South Korean ambassador will help to enhance understanding and cooperation between the two. 

One notable area of recent cooperation between Phnom Penh and Seoul was the establishment of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Preah Sihanouk province. The SEZ aims to attract more investors from South Korea, and will mean that South Korea will be the second country, after China, to have an SEZ in Cambodia.

While the elevation of the level of relations reflects the Kingdom’s growing strategic and economic significance to South Korea, Cambodia-South Korea relations still face some constraints due to Cambodia’s warm relations with North Korea. 

While it has not benefitted economically, politically or diplomatically from North Korea, its embassy is still situated next to the independent monument and the house of Senate president Hun Sen. This raises the question of why the North Korean embassy received such a prominent site in Phnom Penh. I believe Cambodia should show more commitment to enhancing its relations with South Korea by adapting a stronger position toward North Korea. 

Overall, while the Kingdom strives to maintain good relations with both Koreas, the two countries are not equally important for Cambodia, and it is becoming more difficult for Cambodia to maintain good relations with Pyongyang due to the regime’s aggressiveness. As the world is changes, Cambodia should form friendships based on reciprocal interests, rather than historical ties. 

Sokvy Rim is a research fellow at the Cambodian Center for Regional Studies (CCRS). His areas of interest focus on Cambodian foreign policy and its engagement with Southeast and East Asian countries. The views expressed are his own.