Kim Hyong Jun has been appointed DPRK ambassador to Russia by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, the KCNA reported Thursday.

Kim Hyong Jun, a career diplomat, has been a vice minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2005. Prior to that, he served as ambassador to Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon and Syria.

He is replacing Kim Yong Jae as ambassador to Russia. Kim Yong Jae has held the post since 2006 and also was appointed during that time as ambassador to Armenia, Belarus and Moldova, all while still ambassador to Russia.

Historically, Pyongyang and Moscow