North Korea is planning to close up to 12 of its embassies in Spain, Hong Kong, and several African countries, reports Reuters.

Last week, North Korean state media KCNA reported that the country's ambassadors had made "farewell" visits to the leaders of Angola and Uganda, and local media in both African countries confirmed the closure of North Korean embassies there. Angola and Uganda established friendly relations with North Korea in the 1970s, providing military cooperation and rare sources of foreign currency, including construction projects and statues. North Korea will also close its embassy in Spain, with its mission in Italy handling affairs in the neighboring country.

The closures create a significant shift in the country's foreign policy, marking one of the most substantial changes in the past decade, with potential consequences for diplomatic interactions, humanitarian work within the isolated nation, and the ability to generate illicit income.

North Korea is considering the closure of more than a dozen missions, possibly due to international sanctions, the country's tendency to withdraw globally, and potential economic downturn in North Korea, Carroll stated in his report on Wednesday.

Currently, North Korea has official relations with 159 countries, but it maintains only 53 diplomatic missions abroad, including three embassies and three representations.