Full Breakdown
Starmer’s Slip: Misstated UK Trade Deal with North Korea
5/20/2026, 9:20:50 PM
Misstatement and Immediate Correction
On 20 May 2024, during Prime Minister’s Questions, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer listed the United Kingdom’s trade agreements, mentioning deals with the EU, India, North Korea and the United States. A note later alerted him that he had said North Korea instead of South Korea. He described the mistake as a slip of the tongue and an unfortunate error.
Background: UK Trade Agreements
Since leaving the European Union, the UK has pursued bilateral deals to replace EU-wide arrangements. By May 2024 the government had secured agreements with the European Union, India and the United States. The Korean reference was intended to illustrate the broader portfolio of post-Brexit trade pacts.
Key Figures
- Sir Keir Starmer – Prime Minister, presenter of the trade agenda.
- Sir Ed Davey – Liberal Democrat leader who prompted the exchange.
- Parliamentary clerks – supplied the corrective note.
Official Clarification
Starmer publicly corrected the record, stating the United Kingdom does not have a trade deal with North Korea and that the intended partner was South Korea. He framed the incident as a verbal mistake without further policy comment.
Opposition Reaction
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey used the slip to question the government’s trade record and to stress the need for precise parliamentary statements. Other opposition members cited the episode as evidence of communication lapses on international agreements.
Potential Diplomatic Impact
The mistaken reference generated media attention. The prompt correction aimed to prevent misunderstanding that might affect the UK’s relations with the Korean Peninsula and its wider trade partners.
Data & Statistics
- Four partners were named in the original list: the European Union, India, North Korea (mistakenly) and the United States.
- After correction, three accurate agreements remained.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No official source confirms a UK-North Korea trade agreement. The government has not issued a separate statement confirming a UK-South Korea deal at the time of the incident, leaving the exact status of the Korean arrangement unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There are trade deals with the EU, but also with India, North Korea and the United States, and I remind them of the value of those deals.” — Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister
- “I’ve just been handed a note saying that I inadvertently said we did a trade deal with North Korea instead of South Korea.” — Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister
- “It was a slip of the tongue, but a pretty unfortunate one.” — Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister
What’s Next
The Prime Minister’s Office is expected to issue a brief written clarification on the UK’s Korean trade arrangements and to ensure future parliamentary statements accurately reflect existing agreements.
