Paek Nam-sun (b. 1929 in North Hamgyong) is the North Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs. He has served in that capacity since 1998. He is one of the few North Koreans to frequently be in the international spotlight.
Paek graduated from Kim Il-sung University in Pyongyang. He first took a position in international affairs in 1968, when he became vice director of the International Affairs Department of the Worker's Party of Korea. He participated in the first round of North-South Red Cross talks in 1972. Thereafter he was ambassador to Poland from 1974 to 1979.
Paek has also served on the Supreme People's Assembly since 1990, having been elected to the 9th, 10th, and 11th sessions.
References
Yonhap News Agency. "Who's who, North Korea," pp. 787-812 in
