Two North Korean Experts on America Retire

According to reports, North Korean diplomatic official Lee will soon be retiring at age 60, but former Vice Ambassador Han’s reason for his impending retirement is unknown.

Lee, who participated in the six-party talks as a diplomatic vice representative this February, had dealt with issues related to the U.S. for over 14 years since he became director of the America Department in 1993.

A source said, “He is in charge of dealing with U.S.-related civil issues outside the government.”

This February, he visited New York, Atlanta, and a city in Oregon at the invitation of the U.S. government to visit U.S. NGOs helping North Korea.

However, some argue that, “It is hard to say he quit working for the government since North Korean private organizations are in fact run by the government.” North Korea’s minister to the UN, Kim Myong Gil, who is the predecessor to vice ambassador Han, worked for the North Korean foreign ministry, the committee dealing with nuclear issues, and then returned to the foreign office.

A South Korean official said, “Nothing is known about where vice ambassador Han worked after he came back to Pyongyang. Given the closed characteristics of North Korean society, it is hard to know why the reshuffling was carried out.”

Another source said, “There is room for a series of changes in the North Korean Foreign Ministry since the top position remained empty after the death of Minister Baek Nam Sun.”

First deputy minister Kang Sok Ju, who has been controlling North Korean diplomacy behind the scenes over the past 10 years, is mentioned as the likeliest candidate for the position.

spear@donga.com