By Yi Whan-woo
North Korea appointed Kim Hyung-joon its new ambassador to Russia, Thursday, in a possible bid to bolster Pyongyang’s relations with Moscow amid its strained relationship with China, according to an analyst, Friday.
“Pyongyang has been trying to draw Beijing’s attention recently by strengthening its relationship with Moscow,” said Hong Hyun-ik, a senior researcher at the private Sejong Institute think tank.
“It’s possible that North Korea intended to show its willingness to enhance its friendship with Russia by appointing the new ambassador,” Hong said, referring to Kim, 65, North Korea’s vice foreign minister.
The Korean Central News Agency, Pyongyang’s state-controlled media, reported on Thursday that Kim Hyung-joon will replace Kim Yong-jae, who served as the country’s top envoy for Pyongyang’s embassy in Moscow from September 2006.
Kim Hyung-joon will be North Korea’s first new ambassador to Russia since its leader Kim Jong-un seized power in December 2011, according to a government source.
Hong, however, said the appointment of Kim Hyung-joon does not suggest China-dependent North Korea will now lean toward Russia and suddenly replace China.
“As seen from his career background, Kim Hyung-joon is not a close aide of Kim Jong-un,” he said.
“The North Korean leader’s move is seen as part of a reshuffle of his personnel which he routinely carries out.
“The essence of North Korea’s foreign policy centering on China will remain unchanged.”
According to the government source, Kim Hyung-joon served as the ambassador at North Korean embassies in Lebanon, Syria, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain in the early 2000s.
During the period, he helped his communist regime earn remittances from the Middle East with an increased number of Pyongyang’s exported laborers to the region, the source said.
Since 2005, he served as North Korea’s vice foreign minister. He mainly dealt with the bilateral relationship between Pyongyang and Beijing, the source added.
North Korea’s relations with China have been strained since Kim Jong-un executed his uncle, Jang Song-thaek in December 2013. Jang was a key figure in Pyongyang-Beijing relations.
North Korea has been struggling as China stopped exports of oil to the reclusive nation in January.
To diversify its options, Pyongyang has been moving to bolster its diplomatic and economic ties with Moscow, both of which are under U.S-led economic sanctions.
North Korea and Russia have been settling their trade transactions in rubles rather than dollars since June to facilitate trade between the two countries.