North Korean Diplomats in London Keep Low Profile, Neighbours Say
Diplomats sent to the UK by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are living quietly in west London, where neighbours say they spend their free time playing basketball and ordering takeaway curries.
Residents near the North Korean embassy in Ealing describe the staff as polite but reserved, rarely engaging in conversation beyond a greeting. The diplomats are most often seen when collecting food deliveries or visiting a nearby curry shop.
«They’re generally very nice people, they don’t cause trouble,» one neighbour said, adding that interaction is limited.
Behind the high walls of the embassy residence, locals say a basketball hoop is frequently used, with the sound of games occasionally heard from the garden. The property, located on Gunnersbury Avenue, has housed North Korean diplomatic staff since the embassy opened in 2003.
Despite the quiet routine of those inside, the building has drawn periodic protests from activists and defectors. Demonstrators gather every few months to criticise the North Korean government or raise awareness about human rights issues.
Locals say the attention has also attracted curious visitors and social media users hoping to glimpse the secretive mission, though the diplomats themselves continue to maintain a low profile.
