Relations were officially established on 31 July 1974 when Australia extended diplomatic recognition to North Korea under the Whitlam government.

[1] Overall, relations have been stressed and at times, tense, due to Australia's historical involvement in the Korean War and military alliance with the United States, and contemporary disputes such as North Korea's nuclear weapons program and accusations of human rights abuses by both sides.

[1] However, North Korea abruptly closed its embassy without warning later in October 1975 citing restrictions placed on its diplomats.

[1] Australia and North Korea re-established contact in January 1989 amid the changing geopolitical environment caused by the end of the Cold War.

[1] Meanwhile, the implementation of multilateral sanctions banned Australian exporters from supplying North Korea with most essential goods, effectively ending the modest economic relationship.

In January 2013, North Korea requested permission to reopen its embassy, despite Australia supporting increased international sanctions against the country due to its continued nuclear regime.

[13] In September 2021, North Korea denounced the signing of AUKUS as "extremely undesirable and dangerous" warning that it could "upset the strategic balance in the Asia-Pacific" and "trigger a nuclear arms race".

[19] Talks on re-establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries were had in 1979,[20] and again in 1990,[21] but relations were not resumed until May 2000, and the Embassy in Seoul has been accredited to North Korea since August 2008.