In the mid- to late 1980s, Hungary began to forge new economic and political relations with three countries that had long been ignored by most other countries in Eastern Europe. Hungary had broken off political relations with Israel in 1967, all but cut off relations with China as a result of the SinoSoviet split, and neglected South Korea for fear of angering communist Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). Given the varying circumstances of these countries, Hungary had different reasons for seeking to reopen relations with them, although in the case of all three countries, economic relations figured prominently. The Hungarians sought to develop trade and commercial ties with Israel. Hungary and China shared an interest in economic and political reform. South Korea provided a key to opening Hungarian relations with the newly industrialized countries of the Pacific Basin.

Data as of September 1989