Staff at North Korean consulates in China rotated out
Staff at some of North Korea’s consulates in China have been replaced, report sources close to the matter.
“Most of the diplomatic staff, including the consular representative, have been replaced in Shenyang and Dandong. I’ve seen completely different people moving into and setting up the apartments previously occupied by the former consulate staff,” a source currently in China with knowledge of North Korean affairs told Daily NK on August 7.
“It seems that all those recalled to Pyongyang have been permanently moved. Usually North Korean diplomats stationed in China are rotated out on an individual basis every two to three years. So replacing the entire staff in one fell swoop is pretty unusual.”
The source reportedly heard that staff in consulates in other cities outside Shenyang and Dandong have also been replaced, although this has not been independently confirmed.
He surmised that the staff changes occurred at the same time as a broad recall of ambassadors stationed abroad in July.
As previously reported by Daily NK, the order to return was ostensibly made to discuss the rapidly changing situation on the Korean Peninsula, share the results of recently held summits with South Korea, the US and China, and hand down orders concerning diplomatic responses to a range of issues, including denuclearization. ......
[Sources: Daily NK]
