North Korea has appointed a new ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden, Kang Yong Dok (강용덕), the Korean Central News Agency reported Sunday.

This appointment fills a diplomatic post which had been vacant since December of last year, when the previous holder, Pak Kwang Chol, was recalled to Pyongyang. Pak was reportedly a close aide to Kim Jong Un’s late uncle, Jang Song Taek, and his recall was part of the purge of Jang and his associates. Pak was likely imprisoned or, perhaps, even executed.