South Korea named a former senior diplomat to China its new chief nuclear negotiator, apparently noting the growing importance of Beijing in restarting the multinational effort to disarm North Korea.

Lim Sung-nam, formerly minister at the Korean Embassy in China, will officially take over the new post beginning Thursday from his predecessor Wi Sung-lac.
Wi, who served as chief nuclear envoy for two years and six months starting in March 2009, was named Seoul’s new ambassador to Russia. 

Wi, 57, received the Russian government’s approval in August and will take the post officially this month, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The senior career diplomat held many posts directly related to North American affairs, the North Korean nuclear issue and Russian affairs, including director-general of North American affairs and special adviser to the foreign minister and director for Russian affairs.

Educated at South Korea’s top Seoul National University and Harvard University in the U.S., Lim joined the Foreign Ministry in 1981. The 53-year-old senior diplomat has served various posts including special advisor to the foreign minister, director-general at the North Korean nuclear affairs bureau in the ministry and senior coordinator for Seoul-Washington security cooperation.

The incoming chief nuclear envoy’s first mission will be to visit the U.S. Thursday through Saturday to meet with State Department and security officials over nuclear issues and bilateral talks with Pyongyang, the Foreign Ministry said.

By Shin Hae-in (hayney@heraldcorp.com)