A new North Korean ambassador to Myanmar took office after his predecessor returned to the communist state, possibly due to the fresh sanctions South Korea and the U.S. have imposed on him, a diplomatic source said Thursday.

The source said that Jong Ho-bom arrived in the Southeast Asian state last week after his predecessor Kim Sok-chol went back to Pyongyang about two weeks ago. On March 16, the North's Korean Central News Agency reported that Jong had been appointed to replace Kim, who had served in Myanmar since 2007.

Seoul and Washington have blacklisted Kim as they suspect he supported the activities of the Korea Mining Development Corporation, a North Korean firm accused of trading illicit weapons in Myanmar.

It was the first time that the U.S. has blacklisted an incumbent ambassador, observers said. Kim is among the 38 North Korean officials that Seoul blacklisted early this month as part of its unilateral measure to punish the isolated state for its Jan. 6 nuclear test and Feb. 7 long-range rocket launch.

According to U.N. Security Council Resolution 2270, a U.N. member state is to deport any North Korean diplomat engaged in any illicit activities. The UNSC adopted the sanctions resolution early this month to punish its latest provocations and cut off its access to hard currency that can be funneled into its nuclear and missile programs. (Yonhap)