North Korea's new Premier Pak Thae-song (KCNA)
North Korea's new Premier Pak Thae-song (KCNA)

Pak Thae-song, North Korea's new premier appointed at last week's year-end party meeting, has begun his official duties, including sending a condolence letter over the death of former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, according to state media Monday.

Pak sent a condolence letter to incumbent Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, also expressing condolences to the bereaved family over Singh's death, the Korean Central News Agency reported.

This is Pak's first stand-alone official activity reported by North Korea's state media since his appointment as premier during the annual year-end plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, held from last Monday to Friday.

Also on Monday, the KCNA reported that Pak and several other high-ranking officials accompanied North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his visit to a newly completed fish farm in the east coastal city of Sinpho on Saturday.

Pak, known to have led the party's propaganda department and have significant political experience, is expected to pursue public activities more actively than his predecessor, Kim Tok-hun, whose focus had been mainly on the economy.

The new premier was among the top cadres seen alongside Kim Jong-un during his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Russia's Vostochny space center last year, raising the possibility he may lead economic and other cooperation with Russia down the road. (Yonhap)