N Korean diplomat at UN to return home: Report

Tokyo, Oct 7: North Korea's deputy ambassador to the United Nations will be transferred back to North Korea and his post may not be refilled, the Mainichi Shimbun daily reported today.

World concern has been sparked by a North Korean announcement that it plans to carry out a nuclear test, and the UN Security Council yesterday warned Pyongyang of unspecified consequences if it did.

Quoting US and North Korean sources in a story from Washington, the paper said that Han Song-ryol, whom it described as being in charge of contacts with the United States, would be transferred back to North Korea.

The paper said that he may not be replaced, in a move that it said gave an appearance that directions had been given to forbid diplomatic contact with the United States. No further details were given.

Multiple US sources were quoted as saying that Han's transfer back to North Korea had been verified and could take place as early as next week, but that a different official with experience in the US division of the North Korean Foreign Ministry would be sent as a counsellor instead.

Japanese Foreign Ministry officials were not available for comment on the report.

The UN Security Council, in a formal statement adopted unanimously, urged North Korea not to carry out a test, which US officials have said might come as early as this weekend.

REUTERS