DPRK appoints Kim Song as new ambassador to United Nations

DPRK's new ambassador to the UN, Mr Kim Song (Photo: AP)

Ambassador Kim Song will replace Mr. Ja Song-nam, who left at the end of July after having served as DPRK’s top representative at the UN headquarters since February 2014.

The appointment came after Mr. Kim recently received his visa to begin work at his post in New York. Because his visa was not issued soon after his application in late May, there was talk that the United States was intentionally delaying the process amid slow progress in denuclearization talks with the DPRK.

The US - DPRK negotiations on Pyongyang’s denuclearization has been stalled for weeks, with both sides struggling to reach consensus on the issue. But they have also kept some momentum of dialogue alive, with US President Donald Trump applauded the lack of intercontinental ballistic missiles in the DPRK's huge military parade to mark its 70th National Day on September 9th.

Kim Song is a son of Kim Yong-sun, who served as a Secretary of DPRK’s ruling Workers' Party's central committee overseeing the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s affairs.

He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after graduating from Pyongyang University of International Affairs./.