North Korea’s top diplomat in Moscow will step down from his post as ambassador in the near future, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement on Monday.

In a report on talks between Ambassador Kim Hyong Jun and Russian vice foreign minister Igor Morgulov, the MFA said the two met “in connection with [Kim’s] forthcoming final departure to his homeland.”

“A high assessment was given to the contribution of Ambassador Kim Hyong Jun to the development of traditionally friendly relations between Russia and the DPRK,” the statement continued, adding that thetwo also discussed “topical issues