"North Korea's Ri Son-gwon Appointed Foreign Minister, Foreign Embassies Notified on the 11th"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] Russian media reported that they notified foreign embassies in Pyongyang on the 11th that Ri Son-gwon, Chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland (CPRF), was appointed as the new Foreign Minister of North Korea. The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister also confirmed that he was aware of the appointment.

According to Russian news agency TASS on the 20th (local time), Igor Morgulov, Deputy Foreign Minister in charge of the Asia-Pacific region at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated, "Of course, I am aware of North Korea's new Foreign Minister appointment." Earlier, TASS reported that North Korean authorities notified foreign embassies in Pyongyang on the 11th about Ri's appointment as Foreign Minister. Based on Deputy Minister Morgulov's remarks, it is presumed that North Korea officially informed foreign embassies in Pyongyang of the appointment before the formal announcement.

TASS added, citing diplomats stationed in Pyongyang, that the appointment of the new Foreign Minister Ri is expected to be officially announced at the New Year Overseas Mission Chiefs Meeting scheduled to be held in Pyongyang on the 23rd. Ri Son-gwon, a former North Korean military officer who also served as the representative for inter-Korean military working-level talks, has led the CPRF, North Korea's agency for inter-Korean affairs, and is known for his activities in the inter-Korean field, including serving as the head of the North Korean delegation in high-level inter-Korean talks.

Ri Son-gwon was also a controversial figure during the inter-Korean summit in September 2018, when he reportedly asked South Korean business leaders visiting Pyongyang, "Can you swallow cold noodles?" After not appearing in public since the Supreme People's Assembly in April last year, he was confirmed to have participated in the Workers' Party plenary meeting last month, marking his first public appearance in eight months.