North Korea has named Kim Hyong Jun, the country’s former ambassador to Russia, as head of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea’s (WPK) influential International Department, a note circulated to diplomats in Pyongyang seen by NK News confirmed on Wednesday.

The note, issued by the WPK Central Committee’s International Department, informed foreign envoys in the DPRK capital that Kim — who was promoted to alternate member of the party’s Politburo last month — “has become a vice chairman of the WPK CC and International Department director.”

Kim was reported to be preparingto leave his position as the DPRK’s top