North Korea is expected to name a new ambassador to Iran after the post was vacated in late September, as the country’s Charge d’Affaires ad interim to Tehran has taken up the role in recent weeks to discuss boosting economic cooperation.

Kang Sam Hyon, who was appointed to the role of ambassador to Iran in December 2014, had a farewell meeting with Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on September 18.

He also met with the head of the DPRK-Iran friendship parliamentary group Alaeddin Boroujerdi that month before departing the country, where the two discussed their shared anti-sanctions and