Kim Jong-il's translator named N. Korean envoy to Egypt

SEOUL, June 22 (Yonhap) -- The main English language-translator for North Korean
leader Kim Jong-il was appointed as the country's ambassador to Egypt, the
official Korean Central News Agency said Monday.
Ri Hyok-chol was given the post by a decree of the Presidium of the North's
parliament, the Supreme People's Assembly, the report said in a one-sentence
dispatch without elaborating.
Ri, born into a working-class family, is known to have worked his way up the
career ladder with his English proficiency. He interpreted for Kim during his
meeting with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in 2000.
While in university, he was chosen to study abroad on a government scholarship.
He honed his English skills at a university in the South American country of
Guyana from 1978-1982, and after returning home, worked as a professor and
simultaneous interpreter at various international meetings.
Believed to be in his 50s, he is known to belong to the international department
of the Workers' Party that is equipped with translators for Kim in eight major
languages -- English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Arabic and German.
The appointment of Ri took place amid brisk diplomatic and economic exchanges
between the two countries, which started diplomatic relations in 1963.
The Cairo-based Orascom Telecom has been operating mobile phone service in the
North since December, and Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Hussein Haridi
visited Pyongyang in February.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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