North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho has been replaced and his successor will be announced next week, according to South Korea's NK News.

Foreign face Ri has not been identified, but Pyongyang is expected to name his successor on January 23, NK News quoted unnamed sources as saying.

The Unification Ministry, which deals with North Korea, noted that any change in Ri Yong-ho's situation must be carefully evaluated.

Ri Yong-ho, born in 1956, is the son of Ri Myong-je, the former vice president of the Organization and Instruction Office, the office of the Korean Workers' Party responsible for the appointment of state management positions. Bo Ri is also an editor of the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Ri attended the Foreign Language University in Pyongyang. With his English ability, he held many senior positions for working with Western countries for many years.

From 2003 to 2007, Ri was the Korean ambassador to England. He was also a deputy foreign minister, representing North Korea in the six-party nuclear talks. Ri took the position of North Korea's foreign minister in 2016.