Pyongyang to Replace Ambassador to Beijing
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
North Korea plans to replace its ambassador to China for the first time in 10 years, according to a report Tuesday.
Choe Byong-ryol, director general of consular affairs at the North's foreign ministry, will assume the ambassadorial post replacing Choe Jin-su, the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper said, quoting unidentified diplomatic sources.
Pyongyang will also replace Kim Song-gi, minister counselor at the North Korean Embassy in Beijing, with Pak Myong-ho, currently the director general of Chinese affairs at the ministry, the report said.
An official of the South Korean Ministry of Unification said it was difficult to confirm the reports.
"I heard that the proposal for the new ambassador was sent to China's foreign ministry early this month," a source was quoted as saying. "The new ambassador is likely to begin to work late this month or early next month."
North Korea has dispatched vice foreign minister-level diplomats to its ally as the head of its mission for the past 60 years.
If the report is true, Choe would be the lowest-ranking official to serve as ambassador to China.
It is rare for North Korea to change both its ambassador and minister counselor to China at the same time.
With regard to the sudden change in the bilateral diplomatic protocol, some North Korea watchers said that the replacements may show a hiatus in relations between the two countries.
Other North Korea experts said that the reclusive state may want to frontload younger generation well versed in China in a bid to strengthen bilateral ties.
Little information on the general director is available but he is known as an expert on China.