US calls on Germany to cut diplomatic ties with North Korea

The United States has asked countries that still have diplomatic relations with North Korea to break those ties, citing Germany in particular. Sweden and Britain also currently have representation in the reclusive state.

In its latest push to isolate Pyongyang, Washington urged on Wednesday for countries to take action against North Korea and break diplomatic ties with the reclusive state if they still have them.

US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said cutting ties and reducing the number of "guest workers" would put pressure on North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program.
Early on Wednesday, North Korea launched a new type of long-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) called a Hwasong.

The spokeswoman noted that the German government had been helpful in combatting North Korea's "guest worker" system, wherein forced laborers work in foreign countries and allegedly send back money that ends up helping leader Kim Jong Un's regime.
But Berlin, and others, could do more, according to the US.
"We would continue to ask Germany or other countries around the world to recall those ambassadors," Nauert said, adding that Washington is continuing to have conversations with several countries to "shrink the footprint that North Korea has in any given country.".