United Kingdom and North Korea
The United Kingdom and North Korea maintain a relationship shaped by nuclear proliferation, sanctions and differences over human rights. The British policy of critical engagement does not mean unrestricted cooperation.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-08History and institutional framework
Official documentation identifies the nuclear programme, proliferation and human rights as concerns.
Cooperation and bilateral issues
Legal restrictions must be checked in current registers and legislation: a press release cannot establish that every possible transaction is prohibited or attribute the same measure to every North Korean citizen.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | ||
| Goods: United Kingdom to North Korea | ||
| Goods: North Korea to United Kingdom | ||
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: United Kingdom to North Korea | ||
| Export share: North Korea to United Kingdom | ||
| Investment stock: United Kingdom in North Korea | ||
| Investment stock: North Korea in United Kingdom |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | United Kingdom | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 4 trillion USD2025 · World Bank | |
| GDP per capita | 57,601.96 USD2025 · World Bank | |
| GDP growth | 1.39 %2025 · World Bank | |
| Policy interest rate | ||
| Inflation · annual average | 3.88 %Annual average · 2025 · World Bank | |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 3.1 %Year-on-year · 2026-08 · ONS | |
| Unemployment | 4.75 %ILO est.2025 · World Bank | 3.55 %ILO est.2025 · World Bank |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -5.4 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 102.3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | -2.43 %2025 · World Bank | |
| Population | 69,487,0002025 · World Bank | 26,571,0362025 · World Bank |
| Area | 243,610 km²2023 · World Bank | 120,540 km²2023 · World Bank |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)United Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)United Kingdom: 2025 · Average annual CPI change (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedUnited Kingdom: 2026-08 · Headline CPI; change relative to the same month of the previous year · ONS · Headline CPI, not CPIH or core inflation.
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionUnited Kingdom: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.North Korea: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)United Kingdom: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)United Kingdom: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Population
- PeopleUnited Kingdom: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.North Korea: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceUnited Kingdom: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.North Korea: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
United Kingdom to North Korea
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
North Korea to United Kingdom
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Connections between people
Contacts between people and relations between governments are distinct dimensions. Published counts appear in the table with their date and definition; a resident community is not inferred from trade or diplomatic representation. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from United Kingdom living in North Korea | ||
| Residents from North Korea living in United Kingdom | ||
| Study and training: United Kingdom in North Korea | ||
| Study and training: North Korea in United Kingdom | ||
| Academic stays: United Kingdom in North Korea | ||
| Academic stays: North Korea in United Kingdom | ||
| Travel: United Kingdom to North Korea | ||
| Travel: North Korea to United Kingdom |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
History and institutional framework
Official documentation identifies the nuclear programme, proliferation and human rights as concerns. The September 2026 statement by the multilateral sanctions monitoring team addresses North Korean work abroad. [1] [2]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Review: 2026-10-08
Cooperation and bilateral issues
Legal restrictions must be checked in current registers and legislation: a press release cannot establish that every possible transaction is prohibited or attribute the same measure to every North Korean citizen. [1] [2]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral document — GBR-PRK
Government of the United Kingdom · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Bilateral relations — GBR-PRK
Government of the United Kingdom · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08