The U.S. Senate has appointed longtime State Department official Julie Turner to serve as special envoy on North Korean human rights issues, filling a position that has been vacant for more than six years.

Congressional records released Thursday show that the Senate approved Turner’s nomination to serve in ambassador-rank role, more than six months after President Joe Biden nominated her in January.

The U.S. has faced strong criticism from nongovernmental organizations and human rights activists for not appointing a new envoy since Robert R. King left the role in Jan. 2017.

After King’s departure, President Donald Trump did not nominate