China replaces key party official in charge of ties with North Korea

 China's ruling Communist Party has replaced a key official in charge of political relations with North Korea and other countries, according to Chinese state media reports on Thursday.
Wang Jiarui, head of the Chinese Communist Party's international department who held the post for 12 years, stepped down and career diplomat Song Tao was picked as Wang's successor, media reports said.
The website of the department also showed that Song became its head.
It was not immediately known why Wang was replaced.
Song was appointed a vice foreign minister in 2011 and served as a minister-level official at the Chinese Communist Party's foreign affairs office.
When Liu Yunshan, the party's fifth-ranked official, visited Pyongyang last month, he was accompanied by Song.

Source: YONHAP.