North Korea has named Mun Myong-sin as its new ambassador to Britain, replacing Choe Il after nearly a decade. Mun, who previously served at the North Korean Embassy in London alongside high-profile defector Tae Yong-ho, marks the first personnel change in years. Additionally, Hong Kwang-Il has been appointed as the new top envoy to Indonesia, also taking on the role of ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The recent appointment of Hong Kwang-Il signifies North Korea’s first formal announcement of a top diplomat stationed in Indonesia since 2015. In another development, North Korea sent a new ambassador to Belarus on April 12, reflecting a strengthening of bilateral ties following Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s recent visit to Pyongyang. Ji Kyong-su, a former vice minister of external economic relations, presented his credentials to Lukashenko, conveying warm greetings from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
During Lukashenko’s visit to North Korea in March, both leaders signed a treaty on friendship and cooperation to enhance bilateral relations and expand collaboration in various sectors. The deepening ties between North Korea and Belarus align with their shared diplomatic and political support for Russia amid the conflict in Ukraine. Belarus is set to establish an embassy in North Korea by August 1, as reported by Belarusian news sources.
North Korea’s diplomatic efforts extend to Nigeria and Brazil, with the recent appointment of new ambassadors to these countries. The country aims to revitalize its international diplomacy, emphasizing a foreign affairs policy based on national interests.
