North Korea is set to establish a diplomatic mission in Venezuela after recently getting approval from the Latin American country, the Washington-based Voice of America (VOA) reported Wednesday.



VOA cited an official statement from the Venezuelan foreign ministry, saying the government had approved the plan to be initiated at the capital, Caracas.

North Korea will have its first embassy in the South American country since the two countries established bilateral diplomatic relations in 1974.



So far, the North Korean Ambassador to Cuba has represented his country in Venezuela, while Venezuela's counterpart to China fulfilled the corresponding duty.



The recent approval came after the North Korean ambassador's repeated approaches to Venezuela.

Jong Yong-jin, the North Korean Ambassador to Cuba, visited Venezuela starting in March of last year in hopes of setting set up the embassy. Then the North again filed a request with the Spanish-speaking country over the embassy plan, said VOA.



The VOA explained the two countries have kept a friendly alliance. Sharing anti-U.S. foreign policy, both signed a trade agreement in 2005. Also, delegates in economic and foreign affairs paid visits to each other in 2006, prompting amicable connections. The two even staged friendly football matches in 2010, prior to the North participating in its first World Cup in 44 years.



In 1991, the North set up a trade and commerce office in Venezuela's capital before shutting it down in 1999. The office was reopened the following year.



Moreover, North Korea also received approval from the Spanish foreign ministry to establish an embassy last year. In Australia, the government rejected the communist country's proposal last year after it was shut down in 2009 due to the North's third nuclear test.



Meanwhile, South Korea established diplomatic relations with Venezuela a year earlier than did the North. The diplomatic missions were built in Venezuela and Korea in 1973 and 1983 respectively.



