What does a country's neutrality mean in present day?

Several countries in throughout the globe have policies of neutrality such as Switzerland, Ireland and Portugal. A permanently neutral power has to declare its neutrality through international treaty to enable them to be neutral towards all belligerents of all future wars. However, if there is no impending war on their nation, how can they be of help to non-neutral countries? Well, Sweden, whose policy stems from the country's previous history of neutrality, is currently on the United Nations Security Council and is involved in the discussion on what to do about North Korea and nuclear weapon program. Due to Sweden's policy of neutrality the country obtains a unique relationship with the communist state. Sweden, unlike America, has an embassy in Pyongyang as well as Swedish Prime Minister Göran Parsson led European Union delegation as EU president to Pyongyang for talk with Kim-Jung II, the first Western leader to the state. It is evident that due to Sweden's policy of neutrality Sweden has been able to establish an important bridge between the communist state and western nations.