A former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Han Song-ryol, is said to be serving as director general of the North American affairs bureau at North Korea’s foreign ministry.
 
The disclosure on Wednesday comes after Ri Gun, who had been in charge of the bureau until recently, was appointed the North Korean ambassador to Poland.
 
A deputy North Korean ambassador to the UN often functions as a liaison between Pyongyang and Washington. Han served as deputy ambassador twice, from 2002-2006 and from 2009-2013.
 
In 2012, Han played a role in producing the February 29 agreement, in which Washington promised food aid in return for a moratorium on the North’s nuclear and missile tests.
 
After handing over the job to Jang Il-hun in June of 2013, Han worked at a research institute affiliated with the North Korean foreign ministry.