hankyoreh

North Korean vice marshal and chief of the general staff of Korean People’s Army

By Park Min-hee, Beijing Correspondent

North Korea has abruptly replaced its ambassador to China, according to reports. This move comes six months after former Ambasador Choi Byong-kwan assumed the position in April of this year.

Foreign affairs sources in Beijing report that Choi returned to Pyongyang on Saturday, and that his replacement Ji Jae-ryong, the 68-year-old vice director of the Workers’ Party of Korea International Department, is to formally take over the position in Beijing shortly after attending an event Monday in Pyongyang to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Chinese army’s participation in the Korean War. Ji, who is also a known close associate of WPK Ministry of Administration Council Director Jang Sung-taek, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s brother-in-law, appears likely to receive the approval of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the sources said.

Observers say Choi’s sudden replacement after six months in his position is exceptional, given the precedent of long terms served by previous ambassadors Ju Chang-jun and Choi Jin-su. Ju served for approximately 12 years beginning in 1988 and was succeeded by Choi Jin-su, who was in Beijing for close to ten years beginning in 2000.

In light of the relatively small amount of diplomatic activity by Choi Byong-kwan in Beijing, observers in Beijing diplomatic circles have speculated about possible health problems or a reprimand for performance of his duties.

Other analysts have suggested that the replacement represents an attempt to step up diplomatic relations with China by bringing in a figure with more weight as ambassador to the country at a time when North Korea-China relations are enjoying unprecedented closeness, with two China visits by Kim Jong-il within 2010. Whereas Choi, a traditional administrative affairs veteran who served two terms as consular bureau director in the North Korean foreign ministry, was a lower-level figure in comparison with previous ambassadors to China, Ji is known to have some weight within the WPK with his background as a International Department vice director. In other words, analysts are saying, Ji was brought in as ambassador to China with the goal of increasing WPK and Chinese Communist Party interchange following North Korea’s recently strengthening of its party organization through a WPK meeting of party representatives.

Ji first made a name for himself in the 1970s as a youth organization leader in the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League and Korean Students’ Committee. He has been serving as vice director of the International Department since 1993. He has also sat in at meetings between Kim Jong-il and major figures in China and participated in party interchange efforts with Europe and Russia.

Kyodo News reported that Ji’s major duty after taking office as ambassador will be arranging China visits by Kim Jong-il’s son and successor Kim Jong-un.

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