SEOUL: North Korea on Friday (Jan 24) appointed a former army officer with little diplomatic experience as its new foreign minister, state media confirmed Friday, reflecting Pyongyang's already declared hard-line policy toward the US. He went to a reception for foreign envoys as the nation's top diplomat, confirming his appointment, state media said Friday. Attending was "DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon and other officials of the ministry," state media reported -- using North Korea's official name. "Having a former army officer as its top diplomat symbolises the North's uncompromising stance against Washington," Ahn Chan-il, a North Korean defector and researcher in Seoul, told AFP. "It's very rare for someone with military background to be tapped as Pyongyang's foreign minister."

Source: The Star January 24, 2020 05:26 UTC