The North Korean Foreign Ministry has confirmed that its senior diplomat handling U.S. affairs has been promoted to a vice minister.  

The ministry said on its Web site on Tuesday that Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met with a visiting Russian delegation on Monday at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang. 

The ministry said that Russian ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora also attended the meeting, during which the two sides exchanged views on security issues and discussed ways to enhance cooperation. 

Choe, who was the head of the ministry's North America department, is expected to play a key role if Washington and Pyongyang resume talks.