Choe Son Hui, long one of Pyongyang’s top diplomats in talks with the U.S., has been promoted to the position of first vice foreign minister, North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun confirmed on Friday.

Verifying rumors heard by NK News this week from informed sources, news of the promotion did not come in an official announcement.

It came, rather, alongside reports Friday that she had been elected a member of North Korea’s powerful State Affairs Commission, and followed news Thursday of her appointment to the ruling party’s Central Committee.

“Choe Sun Hui’s election as a member of the powerful State Affairs Committee will