North Korea: Choe Son Hui

Experienced diplomat with powerful connections

They are diplomats on opposite sides and each has been a familiar face in the long-running negotiations between the United States and North Korea. They are now locked in talks again for the Donald Trump-Kim Jong Un summit.

Ms Choe Son Hui has extensive experience in international affairs and on nuclear issues.
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SEOUL • North Korean Vice-Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, whose denunciation of United States Vice-President Mike Pence as a "political dummy" jeopardised the US-North Korea summit, is now heading a delegation in talks with their US counterparts at the truce village of Panmunjom on the border with South Korea.

Ms Choe, 54, is among the few high-level North Korean diplomats, travelling often to speak - in fluent English - at international conferences. Educated in China, Austria and Malta, she is known for strong connections to the Kim dynasty in Pyongyang and is expected to play a role in the upcoming June 12 summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 29, 2018, with the headline Experienced diplomat with powerful connections. Subscribe