This video screen capture shows North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un during a meeting with Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin on the occasion of the opening of the Museum of Acts of Valour by Heroes of Foreign Military Operation in Pyongyang. TASS-Yonhap
North Korea is replacing people in decade-old ambassadorial posts across multiple countries in a diplomatic reshuffling, which analysts say is designed to project the image of "a normal state" and diversify its foreign ties beyond its heavy reliance on China and Russia.
The moves include a series of appointments announced in quick succession. On April 7, Pyongyang named Song Se-il as ambassador to Brazil, followed by Ji Kyoung-su to Belarus on April 12. On April 18, Jo Yong-sam was appointed ambassador to Nigeria. On April 21, Hong Kwang-il was named ambassador to Indonesia and Mun Myong-sin to the United Kingdom. On Saturday, Kim Chol-hae was appointed ambassador to Sweden.
The U.K. appointment is among the most significant. Mun will take over a key strategic mission handling North Korea's relations with the West, replacing Choe Il, who has held the post since 2016. Mun reportedly served as a second secretary at the North Korean Embassy in London alongside Thae Yong-ho — a high-profile defector to South Korea and former People Power Party lawmaker, who was then deputy to the ambassador at the British mission.
The reshuffling appears aimed at prioritizing North Korea's national interests and diversifying its diplomatic portfolio beyond its current heavy reliance on China and Russia. Over the last few years, Pyongyang has moved quickly to normalize relations with itstwo most important partnerswhile quietly maintaining outreach to Southeast Asian nations.
The North’s leader hinted at the changes in diplomacy in a March speech to party members, later published on the foreign ministry's website on April 24.
“We should continue to improve and strengthen, from a developmental point of view, the relations with the countries with which we have traditional friendly ties in line with the requirements of the new era, and at the same time readjust and redefine diplomatic preference and adroitly translate it into practice by prioritizing our national interests on the principle of ensuring medium- and long-term and strategic national interests,” Kim said, according to the ministry.
“We should get rid of the diplomatic practices which had been adjusted to the old standards and yardsticks of the past so as to cope with the rapidly changing situation and the unpredictable geopolitical reality with full preparations and employ the diplomatic tactics and methods of external activities becoming to the new status and prestige of the State.”
Analysts say the appointments reflect both a post-pandemic resumption of normal embassy activities as well as a longer-term strategic focus.
“It seems North Korea is resuming the embassy activities which were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It might be difficult to actively expand relations, but it will seek external activities as a normal state under the global multipolar system,” said Kim Jong-won, a research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy.
Source: Korea Times News
