China has appointed a new ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Thursday.

Liu Xiaoming replaces Wu Donghe as China's envoy to Pyongyang.

President Hu Jintao issued the nomination after the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, has approved it.

(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2006)