North Korea’s former Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Han Song-ryol may be reinstated at the end of next month.

A U.S. diplomatic source said that, last month, Han applied for an entry visa to the U.S. Department of State, which in turn, approved his application.

The source went on to say that, if Han retakes the post next month, the current deputy head of the North Korean mission to the U.N., Kim Myong-gil, will likely return to the North.

Other diplomatic sources speculate Pyongyang may be replacing Kim because of his relatively low-rank in dealing with Washington.

Han served as the Deputy Ambassador from 2001 to 2006, taking charge of the North’s U.S. relations. He attended the six-party nuclear talks numerous times during the years.

"한성렬 전 北유엔 차석대사, 내달 말 유엔 복귀할 듯"