Seoul: Ri Son-gwon, the former director of North Korea's now-defunct United Front Department (UFD), seems to have maintained his director title even after the department's dissolution, according to a report released on Monday by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
According to Yonhap News Agency, KCNA stated that Ri delivered a speech during a banquet for overseas North Koreans, marking the 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). He was referred to as "comrade director of the WPK's Central Committee" during this event. This comes amidst news from South Korea's unification ministry that North Korea has disbanded its approximately 10 official organizations responsible for handling inter-Korean affairs, following a 2023 directive from leader Kim Jong-un to classify South Korea as its primary adversary.
In the wake of these organizational changes, the UFD has reportedly been downgraded and renamed as Bureau 10 of the party's Central Committee, based on the unification ministry's evaluation. The KCNA report on Monday confirmed Ri's continued status as director, following speculation about his position after the UFD's abolition.
Ri has been a significant figure in North Korea's political landscape, having served on the party's influential politburo and as foreign minister from 2020 to 2022. The current standing of Bureau 10 within North Korea's organizational hierarchy remains uncertain.
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, citing a foreigner who recently visited North Korea, mentioned hearing that while the UFD's signboard has been removed, its office and personnel continue to operate.