It’s been over six months since the position of ambassador-at-large on North Korean human rights was vacated in South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), a source at the ministry confirmed to NK News on Tuesday.

Lee Jung-hoon, whose part-time role had been created as a result of the North Korean Human Rights Act in 2016, previously served as South Korea’s ambassador on human rights from 2013 to 2016.

“His appointment ended last September, and we don’t have a replacement yet, but we are in the process of gathering candidates together,” an informed MOFA source told NK News on Tuesday.

It’s not clear