KATHMANDU: A majority of Nepali authorities and politicians have decided to not participate in the dinner party hosted by the North Korean Embassy in Kathmandu on the occasion of the 71st National Day of North Korea.

Personalities representing various sectors, including foreign affairs, security, politics, and bureaucracy, have expressed reluctance to join the dinner hosted by North Korean Ambassador to Nepal Jo Young Men this evening at the Bakhundol-based Shangrila Blue Hotel in Lalitpur.

Most of the invitees have decided not to participate in the two-hour dinner program from 6 pm to 8 pm on Friday evening, an official told Khabarhub insisting anonymity.

Nepal’s Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, however, has agreed to be the chief guest of the program. Foreign Affairs source said Vice President Pun’s participation would be a continuation to the tradition of being the chief guest during the national day celebration of a country which has its embassy in Nepal.

A majority of Nepali authorities and politicians have decided to not to participate in the dinner party hosted by the North Korean Embassy in Kathmandu on the occasion of the 71st National Day of North Korea.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, including foreign secretary Shanker Das Bairagi, spokesperson Bharat Raj Poudel, Chief of Protocol Gyanendra Raj Bhandari, among others have also decided not to participate in today’s program despite being invited.

Several senior political leaders, too, have expressed disinterest to join North Korean party this evening, sources have said.

The government officials have exercised caution with North Korea after the United Nations on the last week of July called for Nepal government’s cooperation for imposing mandatory international sanction on the country.

September 9 is the establishment day of North Korea. With the defeat of Japan in 1945 in World War II, the then Soviet Union-backed government was formed in the north while America-supported government was found in the southern part of the Korean peninsula.

With the formation of People’s Congress in North Korea on August 1948, a new constitution had been promulgated on September 3.

Kim Il-sung was elected as the first prime minister of North Korea on September 9, in the same year with the support of the Soviet Union. North Koreans have been observing September 9 as the national day of the country since then.

The other biggest festivals in North Korea include the birthdays of Kim Il-sung and his son Kim Jong-Il.

Most of those Nepali officials expressed reluctance to attend the wreath-laying ceremony on the late Korean leaders organized this morning by the Korean Embassy in Kathmandu.

Only 11 representatives from various organizations favoring North Korea attended the program.

North Korean Ambassador to Nepal Jo has not been able to meet the chairman of Nepal Communist Party Pushpa Kamal Dahal even though the former has been trying to meet Dahal since the last three months, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

North Korea has urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in writing to arrange meetings with Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, Labor Minister Gokarna Bista, Industry Minister Matrika Yadav, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, and Chief of Army Staff Purna Chandra Thapa.

The government has advised the senior leaders, ministers, and other government officials to maintain caution while meeting with the North Korean diplomats.

North Korean Embassy had also invited Foreign Minister Gyawali to visit North Korea and arrange a high-level visit to Nepal from its country. However, the Nepal government has been ignoring such offers for the fear that foreign aid would stop coming to Nepal.

Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has been keeping a close tab on the illegal activities of North Korea in Nepal with the increasing pressure from the international community to stop North Korean activities.