It’s now been 12 years since the U.S. Senate confirmed the last special envoy for North Korean human rights, but political disputes on Capitol Hill suggest Washington is not much closer to filling the key role left vacant since 2017.

The refusal of Sen. Ted Cruz to approve ambassadorial posts in protest against a Russian gas pipeline appears to be delaying the process, highlighting how unrelated issues in U.S. politics can hinder progress on the DPRK. U.S. President Joe Biden has also yet to publicly announce a nominee.

The appointment of a new