Ministry of Foreign Affairs (North Korea)

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
조선민주주의인민공화국 외무성
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (North Korea) logo.png
Agency overview
FormedSeptember 8, 1948 (1948-09-08)
TypeGovernment Ministry
Jurisdiction Government of North Korea
Minister responsible
Parent agency Cabinet
Child agency
Website www.mfa.gov.kp OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the government ministry of North Korea, responsible for conducting foreign relations of the country. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is in charge of the ministry.

Contents

History

The Ministry was established in 1948. [1]

In May 2024, after Kim Jong Un called for large changes in North Korea's reunification policy, Daily NK reported that the Ministry was given responsibilities for handling relations with South Korea, taking those responsibilities from the United Front Department. [2]

Organization

In addition to the foreign minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a First Vice Minister and seven other vice ministers. [3] The current First Vice Minister is Kim Kye-gwan. The other vice ministers include Choe Son-hui, Han Song-ryol, [4] and Choe Hui-chol. [5]

The Ministry includes an organization called the Institute for American Studies. [6]

List of officeholders

The following is a list of foreign ministers of North Korea since its founding in 1948: [1]

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeHead of statePremier
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Pak Hon-yong 02.jpg Pak Hon-yong
박헌영
(1900–1955)
9 September 19483 March 19534 years, 5 months Kim Tu-bong Kim Il Sung
2 Nam il sg28917.jpg General
Nam Il
남일
(1915–1976)
3 March 195323 October 19596 years, 7 months Kim Tu-bong
Choe Yong-gon
3 Pak Songch'ol, June 1973.jpg Pak Song-chol
박성철
(1913–2008)
23 October 19591 July 197010 years, 8 months Choe Yong-gon
4 Ho Dam.jpg Ho Dam
허담
(1929–1991)
1 July 19701 December 198313 years, 5 months Choe Yong-gon
Kim Il Sung
Kim Il Sung
Kim Il
Pak Song-chol
Ri Jong-ok
5 Kim Yong-nam in Moscow (cropped).jpg Kim Yong-nam
김영남
(born 1928)
1 December 19835 September 199814 years, 9 months Kim Il Sung
Office vacant
Ri Jong-ok
Kang Song-san
Ri Kun-mo
Yon Hyong-muk
Kang Song-san
Hong Song-nam
(acting)
6 No image.png Paek Nam-sun
백남순
(1929–2007)
5 September 19982 January 20078 years, 3 months Kim Yong-nam Hong Song-nam
Pak Pong-ju
Kang Sok-ju.jpg Kang Sok-ju
강석주
(1939–2016)
Acting
3 January 200718 May 20074 months Pak Pong-ju
Kim Yong-il
7 Visit by Pak Ui-chun, Minister for Foreign Affaires of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, to the EC (cropped).jpg Pak Ui-chun
박의춘
(born 1932)
18 May 20079 April 20146 years, 10 months Kim Yong-nam
Kim Jong Il
Office vacant
Kim Jong Un
Kim Yong-il
Choe Yong-rim
Pak Pong-ju
8 Ri Su-yong (2014).jpg Ri Su-yong
리수용
(born 1940)
9 April 20149 May 20162 years, 1 month Kim Jong Un Pak Pong-ju
9 Ri Yong-ho.jpg Ri Yong-ho
리용호
(born 1956)
13 May 201618 January 20203 years, 8 months Pak Pong-ju
Kim Jae-ryong
10 Ri Son-gwon.jpg Ri Son-gwon
리선권
21 January 202011 June 20222 years, 141 days Kim Jae-ryong
Kim Tok-hun
11 Choe Son-hui.jpg Choe Son-hui
최선희
(born 1964)
11 June 2022Incumbent2 years, 122 days Kim Tok-hun

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Foreign ministers E-K". rulers.org. B. Schemmel. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  2. Mun, Dong Hui (29 March 2024). "N. Korea shifts United Front Department roles to foreign ministry, military". Daily NK . Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  3. "Choe Son-hui, N.K. diplomat on U.S. affairs, promoted to vice minister". Yonhap. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  4. Hotham, Oliver (27 February 2018). "Choe Son Hui promoted to vice-minister at DPRK foreign ministry: sources". NK News . Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  5. "FM Delegation Leaves for Singapore". Rodong Sinmun . 2 April 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  6. Smith, Josh (July 10, 2019). Perry, Michael (ed.). "North Korea calls South Korea's F-35 jet purchases 'extremely dangerous action'". Reuters. Archived from the original on July 11, 2019.