Ri was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs on 9 May 2016. His promotion came after the 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, which made him a full member of the Central Committee and an alternate member of the Politburo. Previously, since 28 September 2010, he had been an alternate member of the Central Committee. Ri is also a deputy to the 14th Supreme People's Assembly, representing the 371st Electoral District (Unha).