China will likely appoint Li Jinjun as its new ambassador to North Korea, South Korean media reported Tuesday, citing a diplomatic source.

Li Jinjun, 59, is a career diplomat and party official who has worked in International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee since 1975. Li served as ambassador to the Union of Myanmar from December 2000 and then as ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines from November 2005. In March 2007, Lie became a vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.