Han Tae-song

{{Short description|North Korean diplomat}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}

{{family name hatnote|Han||lang=Korean}}

Han Tae-song ({{Korean|hangul=한대성|context=north}}) is a diplomat from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea){{cite news|title=Former N. Korean smuggler diplomat named ambassador to Switzerland|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/northkorea/2017/02/02/0401000000AEN20170202012600315.html|agency=Yonhap News Agency|location=Republic of Korea|date=February 2, 2017|access-date=February 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202171118/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/northkorea/2017/02/02/0401000000AEN20170202012600315.html|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}} who most recently served as its ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva.{{Cite web |title=North Korea says "biggest issue" in U.S. ties is impounded ship |last=Nebehay |first=Stephanie |work=Reuters |date=May 22, 2019 |access-date=December 7, 2020 |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa-un/north-korea-says-biggest-issue-in-us-ties-is-impounded-ship-idUSKCN1SS1YC?c=1558691640882 }}

As a career diplomat, he has served as North Korea's top envoy to Italy, Malta, Greece and Spain. In 1992, while serving in Zimbabwe, he was expelled from the country after being caught engaging in the illicit trafficking of rhino horns.

In 2017 he was appointed ambassador to Switzerland. In September of the same year, he made a direct threat on behalf of his country to the United States of America.{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/world/north-korea-nuclear-testing-mountain-may-be-at-risk-of-collapse-after-heart-blasted-out-by-hydrogen-bomb/news-story/e7579e26a0a024060c52222c47d93284|title=North Korea nuclear testing: Mountain may be at risk of collapse after heart blasted out by hydrogen bomb|author=Jamie Seidel|website=News.com.au|date=September 6, 2017|access-date=September 6, 2017}}

He was recalled in December 2023 amid North Korean and Swiss investigations into his alleged involvement in ivory trafficking.{{cite news |last1=Kang |first1=Taejun |title=North Korea appoints new ambassador to UN office in Geneva |url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/nk-un-ambassador-05122024224534.html |access-date=20 June 2024 |work=Radio Free Asia |date=12 May 2024}}