North Korea appointed experienced trade specialist Ri Ryong Nam to be its next ambassador to China, the DPRK foreign ministry announced on Friday.

Ri, who oversaw trade policy as a vice premier in North Korea’s Cabinet, will replace Ji Jae Ryong, who has served as ambassador to China since Oct. 2010.

Ri has wide and long-ranging ties to North Korea’s external economic relations and extensive experience living overseas.

Prior to his role in the Cabinet between June 2016 and Jan. 2021, Ri was trade minister between 2008 and 2016, according to the NK Pro Leadership Tracker