There appear to be some dramatic changes in North Korean officials overseeing foreign affairs. Recently, the domestic and international press have reported that Ri Su-yong, a veteran in North Korea’s foreign affairs and a member of the Political Bureau of the Workers’ Party of Korea, who served as the party’s vice chairman in charge of foreign affairs, has been removed from all his positions, and that Ri Yong-ho, the North Korean foreign minister who had overseen the North’s strategy against the United States during the Kim Jong-un era, has stepped down from his position after four years. Reportedly, Ri Son-gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland has been appointed to succeed Ri Yong-ho. On January 19, multiple diplomatic sources conveyed that North Korea notified the foreign embassies in North Korea of the changes in its foreign affairs staff last week. The South Korean government said, “We need to further confirm the details,” but it believes that the latest reports are likely to be true. Attention is on the changes in North Korea’s foreign affairs representatives, which suggests a shift in North Korea’s foreign policy.

It is a significant change that North Korea simultaneously replaced Ri Su-yong, a veteran diplomat and a party vice chairman (foreign affairs), and Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho, an undisputable U.S. specialist, in the plenary meeting of the party at the end of last year. Simultaneously replacing the two major pillars of foreign affairs that have led the negotiations with the U.S. so far has more meaning than just the resignation of two senior foreign affairs officials. North Korea could be holding these officials responsible for the failure to resume denuclearization talks with the U.S. after the summit in Hanoi. On top of this, if Ri Son-gwon has really been appointed foreign minister, it further supports this interpretation. The appointment of Ri as the foreign minister is a radical move, for Ri was a military official who led a state agency overseeing inter-Korean relations, the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland. Ri led the North Korean delegation in senior-level talks with South Korea. He is also a hardliner who criticized South Korean businessmen during the inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang in September 2018, asking them, “How could you down the cold noodles?” There has been a foreign minister who oversaw affairs concerning South Korea (Ho Dam) in the past, as well as a foreign minister appointed after overseeing inter-Korean affairs (Paek Nam-sun). Nevertheless, the appointment of Ri Son-gwon, who has no experience in diplomacy, is an expression of North Korea’s determination not to yield to U.S. pressure in the negotiations. The successors have less weight in the party, which is another cause for concern. We only hope that this does not mean North Korea is retreating from a diplomatic solution.

The latest measure can be seen in a positive light, if North Korea is seeking a fresh breakthrough in its relationship with the U.S. with the drastic changes in its foreign affairs officials. However, this must not lead to a hardline response against the U.S. or to risky actions. The basic principle of resolving North Korea’s nuclear issue through dialogue should not be threatened. We also hope that the appointment of Ri Son-gwon, who handled affairs with South Korea, can lead to progress in inter-Korean relations. The reshuffle of North Korea’s foreign affairs aides also calls for an adequate response from the South Korean government.

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