ID :
186385
Sat, 06/04/2011 - 02:15
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/186385
The shortlink copeid
U.S. names Korean-American official as ambassador to Seoul: sources
WASHINGTON, June 3 (Yonhap) -- The Barack Obama administration has tapped Sung Kim, the State Department's top Korea expert, as its new ambassador to South Korea, sources here said Friday.
If his nomination is confirmed by the Senate, Kim, 51, will become the first U.S. ambassador to Seoul with an origin in Korea.
"The U.S. government requested a diplomatic agreement from the South Korean government to the nomination earlier this week," a source said.
Kim, born in South Korea, immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s and obtained U.S. citizenship in 1980.
Another source said that the White House took into account Kim's expertise in Korean affairs. He has served as special envoy for the six-way talks on North Korea's nuclear programs since 2008.
The career diplomat earlier headed the Office of Korean Affairs at the State Department.
U.S. officials refused to confirm whether Kim was actually nominated.
"We have no personnel announcements to make at this time," a senior U.S. government official said on the condition of anonymity. "We normally do not confirm anything before the President???s formal nomination is sent to the Senate."
If his nomination is confirmed by the Senate, Kim, 51, will become the first U.S. ambassador to Seoul with an origin in Korea.
"The U.S. government requested a diplomatic agreement from the South Korean government to the nomination earlier this week," a source said.
Kim, born in South Korea, immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s and obtained U.S. citizenship in 1980.
Another source said that the White House took into account Kim's expertise in Korean affairs. He has served as special envoy for the six-way talks on North Korea's nuclear programs since 2008.
The career diplomat earlier headed the Office of Korean Affairs at the State Department.
U.S. officials refused to confirm whether Kim was actually nominated.
"We have no personnel announcements to make at this time," a senior U.S. government official said on the condition of anonymity. "We normally do not confirm anything before the President???s formal nomination is sent to the Senate."
