North Korea's new foreign minister was its negotiator at failed talks on nuclear disarmament

Mr Ri Yong Ho, who was appointed as North Korea's new foreign minister, was its negotiator at failed international talks aimed at getting it to disarm. PHOTO: REUTERS

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea, diplomatically isolated and squeezed by United Nations sanctions, has appointed as foreign minister its negotiator at failed international talks aimed at getting it to disarm, according to a North Korean diplomatic note to Britain.

Mr Ri Yong Ho, 59, replaces Mr Ri Su Yong, who has been one of the highest-profile officials of a country whose current leader Kim Jong Un has not travelled abroad since taking power following the death of his father in 2011.

Mr Ri, most recently vice-foreign minister, represented North Korea at six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programme, which fell apart after their last round in 2008.

China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States were the other parties to the talks.

Mr Ri, a former ambassador to Britain, is likely to be responsible for making North Korea's case at the United Nations.

The UN Security Council in March imposed tough new sanctions against North Korea in response to its fourth nuclear test in January and the launch of a long-range rocket the next month.

North Korean state media has not announced Mr Ri's appointment but North Korea's embassy in Britain informed the British Foreign Office of his appointment in a note dated on May 16, and seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

North Korea has been isolated for decades but recently even its main ally, China, has been growing increasingly frustrated with it over its nuclear ambitions, which China disapproves of.

China backed the tighter UN sanctions in March.

The UN Human Rights Council has also adopted by consensus a resolution condemning North Korea's human rights record.

Mr Lee Ji Sue, a North Korea expert at South Korea's Myongji University, said the change at the ministry did not signal a North Korean change in approach.

"Like Ri Su Yong who took orders from Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un, Ri Yong Ho won't have much say in foreign policies," he said. Mr Kim Jong Il was the current leader's father.

Outgoing foreign minister Ri, 76, a well-travelled career diplomat, was named a member of the politburo during a recent congress of the ruling Workers' Party.

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