According to Yonhap:
North Korea has recently promoted its vice forestry minister, Kim Kwang-yong, to the post of minister, according to the country’s state media on Wednesday.
Radio Pyongyang referred to Kim as forestry minister, rather than his previous title of vice minister, while carrying his comments on a recently broadcast statement from North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
Little is known about the new minister. He visited Russia a year ago while leading the ministry’s delegation as vice minister, according to North Korean media reports.
Kim’s predecessor, Sok Kun-su, was reportedly named to the post in October 2004.
On October 18, KCNA published the following story (this is the only mention of his name in KCNA online archives):
Delegation of Ministry of Forestry Leaves for Russia
Pyongyang, October 18 (KCNA) — A delegation of the DPRK Ministry of Forestry headed by Vice-Minister Kim Kwang Yong left Pyongyang Thursday to participate in the 12th meeting of the forestry sub-committee of the inter-governmental committee for cooperation in trade, economy and science and technology between the DPRK and Russia to be held in Russia.
Many North Korea watchers will remember that North Korean laborers are felling forests in Siberia (background here and here). It looks like these business ventures are now part of Mr. Kim’s portfolio.
Read the full article here:
N. Korea names new forestry minister
Yonhap
10/29/2008
