Collapse of North Korea's US Negotiation Team... Focus on Ri Son-gwon's Growing Control over 'Naengmyeon Throat'

Choi Kang-il, who assisted North Korea-US negotiations, heads to Europe
Following Ri Yong-ho's dismissal, US negotiation line shrinks
Large-scale personnel changes after Ri Son-gwon's appointment... Diplomatic line under spotlight

On February 22 last year (local time), five days before the 2nd North Korea-US summit, Kim Hyok-chol, North Korea's Special Representative for US Affairs of the State Affairs Commission (right), Kim Song-hye, Director of the United Front Department's Unification Strategy Office (center), and Choe Kang-il, Director General of the North America Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (left), were leaving the Guest House in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Analysis has emerged suggesting that the recent large-scale personnel reshuffle by North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has further clouded the prospects of North Korea-U.S. denuclearization negotiations. Additionally, it is assessed that the new Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon's grip on power will be further strengthened through this reshuffle.

On the 14th, North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, "Choe Kang-il has been appointed as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the Republic of Austria." The Ministry also officially confirmed on the same day that Ambassador Ju Won-chol, a 'Europe expert' within the Ministry, was appointed as the successor to Kim Pyong-il, who had served as Ambassador to the Czech Republic since 2015.

On the same day, the Ministry announced that Choe Il was appointed as Ambassador to Poland. Choe Il appears to have served as Ambassador to the United Kingdom since 2016. The Ministry also disclosed that Jeong Seong-il was appointed Ambassador to South Africa and Han Seong-woo as Ambassador to Iran.

The most eye-catching aspect of this reshuffle is the posting of former Deputy Director (acting Director) of the North American Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Choe Kang-il, to Austria. He is known as one of the Ministry's top 'U.S. experts' and played a key role in supporting Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, his superior, during preparations for the North Korea-U.S. summits.

In February 2018, when the Korean Peninsula situation was showing rapid changes, he visited South Korea to attend the closing ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics alongside then Deputy Chairman of the Workers' Party Kim Yong-chol.

Subsequently, whenever Vice Foreign Minister Choe met with Stephen Biegun, the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, at Panmunjom and Singapore, Choe Kang-il accompanied her, providing practical support for the June 2018 Singapore North Korea-U.S. summit. He also participated in agenda consultations with Kim Hyok-chol, North Korea's Special Representative for U.S. Affairs at the State Affairs Commission, during the Hanoi North Korea-U.S. summit in February last year.

Choe Kang-il's transfer to Austria is interpreted as signaling the dismantling of North Korea's U.S. negotiation team.

Jung Sung-jang, Director of the North Korea Research Center at the Sejong Institute, explained, "Following the dismissal of Ri Yong-ho, who oversaw North Korea-U.S. denuclearization negotiations, from the Foreign Minister position on December 31 last year, and now with Choe Kang-il, who played a key role assisting then Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui during the 2018 and 2019 summit preparations, being assigned as Ambassador to Austria, the U.S. negotiation line has become further weakened."

In December last year, the new Foreign Minister overseeing North Korea's diplomatic strategy was replaced from Ri Yong-ho to Ri Son-gwon, Chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland (CPRF). The photo shows Ri Son-gwon speaking at the inter-Korean high-level talks delegation meeting in October 2018. Photo by [Photographer's Name]

There is also speculation that this reshuffle marks the full emergence of Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon's diplomatic style. Ri Son-gwon, who succeeded Ri Yong-ho as Foreign Minister, is known for having made controversial remarks, such as scolding South Korean business leaders visiting Pyongyang during the September 2018 inter-Korean summit by asking, "Can you swallow cold noodles?"

Director Jung said, "The simultaneous announcement of new North Korean ambassadors to the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, South Africa, and Iran represents a large-scale personnel reshuffle following Ri Son-gwon's appointment as Foreign Minister," adding, "This reshuffle is expected to further consolidate Ri Son-gwon's control over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

Meanwhile, through this reshuffle, North Korea has recalled 'branches of the Paektu bloodline' who had been abroad back to Pyongyang. Choe Kang-il, newly appointed as Ambassador to Austria, succeeded Kim Kwang-seop, who is Chairman Kim Il-sung's son-in-law. Kim Pyong-il, recalled from the Czech Republic, is the half-brother of Kim Jong-il, former Chairman of the National Defense Commission.

Director Jung interpreted, "Kim Jong-un's recall of these individuals to the country reflects his confidence that ▲their return poses no threat to his power, and ▲his intention to fundamentally eliminate the possibility that they might choose to defect while staying abroad."

He further evaluated, "Additionally, Kim Jong-un's performance-oriented personnel style, which involves replacing individuals who held ambassadorial posts but were unable to conduct active diplomatic activities due to surveillance and control with those who can actually work, has played a complex role."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.