Choe Son-hui

Choe Son-hui
최선희
Choe in 2018
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 June 2022
President	Kim Jong Un
Premier	Kim Tok-hun
Deputy	Im Chon Il
Preceded by	Ri Son-gwon
First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office April 2019 – June 2022
Preceded by	Kim Kye-gwan
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs (North American portfolio)
In office February 2018 – April 2019
Preceded by	Han Song-ryol
Personal details
Born	(1964-08-10) 10 August 1964 (age 59) Pyongyang, North Korea
Political party	Workers' Party of Korea
Relations	Choe Yong-rim (stepfather)
Occupation	Diplomat

Choe Son-hui (Korean: 최선희; born 10 August 1964) is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Korea. Previously the First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, she was appointed Minister on 11 June 2022, becoming the first woman to hold the position and is one of few North Korean women holding a high-level office.^[1]

Choe is a seasoned interpreter, aide, researcher, and Foreign Ministry official. Fluent in English, she interpreted at the six-party talks and Washington-Pyongyang dialogue early in her career. Choe has worked in the foreign ministry as section chief and deputy director. Since 2016 she has been deputy director-general of the North American department. She was made a regular vice minister in 2018 with a North American portfolio. She became the first vice minister the following year.

Choe is reportedly a regular participant in track 1.5 and track 2 diplomacy and has experience in the area of North Korea–United States relations and nuclear issues. A statement by Choe released before the 2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un led to President Trump temporarily cancelling the meeting. Choe had referred to US Vice President Mike Pence as a "political dummy", angering Trump. Regardless, Choe was a participant in the summit when it took place on 12 June. At the 2019 North Korea–United States Hanoi Summit, Choe made a last-minute attempt to reach an agreement with her American counterparts, but failed to reach a deal.