战略与国际研究中心-Impact-Players_-Ri-Yong_1页_364kb

Impact Players: Ri Yong-ho

Who is Ri Yong-ho?

Ri Yong-ho is the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), appointed in May 2016. He also became an alternate member of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) Political Bureau during the 7th Congress of the WPK in May 2016.

Ri is a career diplomat with over 30 years of experience in North Korea's foreign service. His diplomatic career began in 1978, and he has held various key positions, including:

• Secretary at the DPRK embassy in Sweden (1985–1988)
• Secretary at the DPRK embassy in Zimbabwe (1979–1984)
• Manager in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' International Organizations Bureau (1988–1995)
• DPRK representative to the Six-Party Talks (since 2010)
• Counselor at the foreign ministry (1995), where he first participated in nuclear negotiations with the U.S.
• Accompanied Jo Myong Rok on his historic 2000 trip to the U.S.
• Served as general diplomatic counsel in Pyongyang (2007)
• Accompanied Pak Ui Chun during his 2010 trip to Asia

He was born in 1954 and is part of the third generation of North Korean elites, with his father, Ri Myong-je, having held high-ranking positions in the North Korean government, including roles in the KWP Organization Department and Kim Jong Il's Personal Secretariat.

Why has he been in the news?

Ri Yong-ho's appointment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was confirmed on May 11, 2016, replacing Ri Su-yong, who had served since April 2014. This promotion occurred during the 7th Party Congress, where his predecessor was elected to full WPK Political Bureau membership and promoted to Vice Chairman for International Affairs, replacing Kang Sok Ju, who was still terminally ill at the time.

Ri Yong-ho and his predecessor Ri Su-yong now serve as the new foreign policy representatives in the Political Bureau, replacing Kang Sok Ju and Kim Yang Gon, the latter of whom died in a car accident in December 2015.

What can we expect from him?

Ri Yong-ho's appointment is notable for skipping over Kim Kye-gwan, who was previously the chief negotiator for the Six-Party Talks and had served as senior vice minister of foreign affairs since 2010. Kim had also been a close confidant of Kim Jong-un, accompanying him in meetings with prominent Western figures such as Bill Clinton (2009) and Jimmy Carter (2010).

Ri Yong-ho now faces a challenging role, as his predecessor, Ri Su-yong, was known for being a skilled diplomat and active traveler. Ri Su-yong made headlines for:

• Delivering the first DPRK speech at the UN General Assembly in 15 years (2014)
• Visiting multiple continents, including Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East
• Representing DPRK at the Paris Agreement signing in the U.S. (April 2016)

Given the high tensions in the region due to North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations in early 2016, Ri Yong-ho's role is expected to be complex and difficult. The international community, including China and Russia, has called for diplomatic talks to ease the situation, but sanctions imposed after DPRK's fourth nuclear test and missile test have further complicated the diplomatic landscape.

Ri Yong-ho's promotion signals a shift in leadership and strategy within the DPRK's foreign affairs apparatus, especially in the context of increased regional and global scrutiny of North Korea's nuclear program. His experience in managing relations with the U.S., South Korea, and the United Nations makes him a key figure in shaping DPRK's foreign policy in the years ahead.