North Korea has appointed a former ambassador to Russia as its new foreign minister.

Ambassador Pak Ui-chun is succeeding Paek Nam-sun, who died in office this January.

In announcing the new foreign policy chief, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said Pak's appointment was made by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, the North's rubber-stamp parliament.

The 75-year-old Pak had served as North Korea's ambassador to Russia for eight years until 2006 following stints as an envoy to Algeria, Syria and Lebanon. He has also been a member of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly since 1998.

South Korean officials expect that Pak's appointment will not bring major changes in North Korea's foreign policies or its stance on the six-party nuclear talks.

Former Minister Paek died of lung cancer on January second at the age of 77 after serving as the North's top diplomat since 1998.