NK Ambassador To Switzerland Appointed

New DPRK Ambassador to Switzerland, So Se Phyong (left) in his previous position as DPRK Ambassador to Iran

Ri Chol’s replacement as DPRK Ambassador to Switzerland has been appointed.  So Se Phyong has been appointed as Ri’s replacement in Berne.  Ambassador So was previously the country’s ambassador to Iran, appointed in November 2008.

It is not clear where Ri Chol is going from here.  A commentary published last week in a Hong Kong newspaper contends that Ri Chol has returned to Pyongyang to play an unknown role in Kim Jong Un’s succession campaign.  On the other hand, I am told he has returned to Kim Jong Il’s Personal Secretariat.