DPRK appoints senior officials

SEOUL - The Democratic People Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced a re-shuffle of senior officials on Thursday just days ahead of a key communist party meeting.

Kang Sok-ju, the DPRK's first vice-minister of foreign affairs, has been appointed to the position of a vice-premier of the cabinet, the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

Kim Kye-gwan, Pyongyang's chief negotiator in the Six-Party Talks, was named to fill Kang's slot at the foreign ministry while Ri Yong-ho, Kim's deputy in the nuclear talks, was named a vice foreign minister.