Diplomatic corps

Part 1.

James Retief, Vice Consul and Third Secretary in the Diplomatic Corps, followed the senior members of the terrestrial mission across the tarmac and into the gloom of the reception building.

The gray-skinned Yule guide who had met the arriving embassy at the foot of the ramp hurried away.

The counselor, two first secretaries, and the senior attachés gathered around their ambassador, their ornate uniforms bright in the vast, dun-colored room.

"'Now go sit down and work on the image.' At his desk in the VIP suite aboard the orbiting core vessel, Ambassador Spradley pursed his lips and looked severely at Vice Consul Retief.

"'Further,' he said, "'you have displayed a complete lack of understanding of core discipline, "'the respect due a senior agent, and even the basic courtesies.

"'Your aggravated displays of temper, ill-timed outbursts of violence, "'and almost incredible arrogance in the assumption of authority— Make your further retention as an officer agent of the Diplomatic Corps impossible.

It will therefore be my unhappy duty to recommend

is where the episode turns.

Daniel asked whether there's a resident diplomatic corps, and whether any of them have published accounts.

The answer to the first is yes, and it's small.

North Korea has diplomatic relations with around 160 countries, but only about 25 have embassies in Pyongyang.

The resident diplomatic corps is perhaps 20 to 30 diplomats from a handful of countries.

25 embassies in the city of 3 million.

That's a smaller diplomatic footprint than some mid-sized European capitals.

That means if an American gets arrested in North Korea, the Swedish embassy is the one that shows up.

But I do like this.

This is a typed sheet headed, The Procedure for the Evening Reception for the Members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace on the 17th of November, 1977.

Silver Jubilee year, I know, you're noticing.

It was the Queen's own battle plan for the diplomatic reception.