[Yonhap News Photo]
North Korea has named Choe Il as its new ambassador to Britain, Pyongyang's state media said, following the latest defection to South Korea by a top diplomat stationed in London.
Choe has been appointed Pyongyang's envoy to Britain, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a short dispatch, replacing his predecessor Hyon Hak-bong. Choe had experience working as a councilor at the North Korean mission in the United Nations, but other details regarding his background are not known.
The report came amid speculation that North Korea recalled Hyon to hold him responsible for the defection to Seoul of Thae Yong-ho, a former minister at its embassy in the British capital. In late July, Thae defected to South Korea with his wife and children, making him one of the highest-ranking North Korean officials to escape to the South.
(Yonhap)
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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