Are North Korea and Iran the three countries in the world that have not established diplomatic relations with the United States?

Yes. As of September 2019, there are three countries that have not established diplomatic relations with the United States: North Korea, Bhutan, and Iran.

1. Iran

Located in West Asia, it is one of the most powerful countries in the Middle East. Due to various reasons, it has caused the United States great pain, so the United States has always been unfriendly to Iran. So far, the two countries have not established diplomatic relations. But the relationship between Iran and China is based solely on that. When traveling to Iran, Chinese tourists enjoy super friendly treatment.

2. Bhutan

Located between China and India, it is a mysterious country, and it is also a relatively closed country in the world. This country’s economy is relatively backward. Under some influence from India, it pursues a strategy of not establishing diplomacy with major powers. Currently, it has established diplomatic relations with only 20 countries in the world. Not only does it not have the United States, it has never established diplomatic relations with China.

3. North Korea

The relationship between North Korea and the United States is not friendly. Negotiations between the two countries are still ongoing without any exchanges between ambassadors. North Korea is one of the most important adversaries of the United States. The United States currently deals with North Korea through the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang. In 2009, North Korea appeared to embark on its nuclear program despite opposition from the international community, including from the United States, further deteriorating relations between the two countries. The embargo prohibited U.S. goods of any kind except humanitarian aid, such as food during times of famine.

Extended information:

The United States and Bhutan have not established formal diplomatic relations. However, the two governments have informal and friendly relations, although through the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, etc. Some contacts were made through informal channels. Bhutan joined the United Nations in 1971 but has no diplomatic relations with any Security Council.

Iran’s interests in the United States are represented by the government of Pakistan. A tentative nuclear deal may be reached between Iran and six world powers, but it would not change official U.S. diplomatic relations with Middle Eastern countries. Following the Iran deal, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry assured Americans that the move would not lead to a reset of ties with Tehran.

After the Korean War, the United States has been strongly supporting South Korea, but regards North Korea as an opposing country, and has sharp conflicts with North Korea on many aspects such as nuclear issues. Although North Korea and the United States have never stopped contacting each other, their differences are obvious. North Korea has always believed that the United States stationed troops in South Korea and held large-scale joint military exercises against North Korea, continued to threaten and intimidate North Korea, and continued to implement hostile policies towards North Korea, forcing North Korea to strengthen its military power, including nuclear deterrence. The United States insists that the prerequisite for a breakthrough in diplomacy between the two countries is that North Korea earnestly fulfills its commitments on terminating its nuclear program.

Reference: Global Network-The United States and Cuba officially established diplomatic relations. Only 3 countries in the world have not established diplomatic relations with the United States