H.E. Schäfer, a distinguished diplomat with a career spanning nearly four decades, served as the German Ambassador to both North Korea and Guatemala. Born in Oldenburg, Germany in 1952, his educational background reflects a global perspective, having attended high school in both Kiel, Germany and Kansas City, USA. He further pursued studies in History and Romance Studies at the University of Kiel and the University of Lyon, culminating in a PhD in German History from his alma mater in 1985.

H.E. Schäfer’s diplomatic career began in 1981 with the German Foreign Office. His postings encompassed various locations around the world, including Beijing, San Salvador, Hong Kong, Guatemala, Caracas, and Seoul. Notably, his expertise in arms control was honed during his service in Bonn and Berlin. He held the prestigious position of German Ambassador twice, serving in North Korea from 2007-2010 and 2013-2018, and in Guatemala from 2010-2013. Since his retirement in 2018, H.E. Schäfer resides in Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria, and continues to share his insights on North Korea through his 2021 book, “From Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Un: How the Hardliners Prevailed. On the Political History of North Korea (2007-2020)”.