North Korea has been invited to the late Queen’s funeral, government officials have confirmed.

Pyongyang’s ambassador will receive an invitation, as will the envoys of Iran and Nicaragua, The Telegraph understands.

Every country the United Kingdom has diplomatic relations with has been invited to the state funeral, with the exceptions of Russia, Belarus and Myanmar.

Britain and North Korea established diplomatic relations in 2000 after 60 years without embassies.

Ambassadorial level invitations, issued instead of an invitation to a head of state, can reflect diplomatic tensions.

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Both Iran and North Korea’s nuclear programmes have been a source of tension with the UK and the wider west.

Even had the invitation been extended to Kim Jong-un, the reclusive leader of the hermit kingdom rarely travels.

Read more: The Telegraph