ID :
190238
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 01:52
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/190238
The shortlink copeid
Obama soon to announce new envoy to Seoul: source
WASHINGTON (Yonhap) - The White House is expected to announce this week the nomination of Sung Kim, the State Department's top Korea expert, as new ambassador to Seoul, a diplomatic source here said Tuesday.
The South Korean government gave formal diplomatic consent Monday to the Obama administration's plan to replace Ambassador Kathleen Stephens with Kim, a career diplomat born in South Korea, according to the source.
If his nomination is confirmed by the Senate, Kim, 51, will become the first-ever U.S. ambassador to Seoul with an origin in Korea. Kim immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s and obtained U.S. citizenship in 1980.
"The White House is likely to announce Kim's designation as early as tomorrow or on Thursday," the source said.
The source added Kim has already quit work as special envoy for the six-way talks on North Korean nuclear programs and started preparations for a confirmation hearing, expected to take place in July.
The White House reportedly took into account Kim's diplomatic career and expertise in Korean affairs, overriding calls for the nomination of a political heavyweight. Many observers expect upheavals in regional security conditions around 2012, when North Korea aims to become a self-styled "strong and prosperous" nation. South Korea, China and Russia will go through leadership
changes next year, and Obama is up for reelection.
Meanwhile, the U.S. plans to name Clifford Hart, foreign policy adviser to the chief of naval operations, as special envoy for the six-way talks, the source said.
The South Korean government gave formal diplomatic consent Monday to the Obama administration's plan to replace Ambassador Kathleen Stephens with Kim, a career diplomat born in South Korea, according to the source.
If his nomination is confirmed by the Senate, Kim, 51, will become the first-ever U.S. ambassador to Seoul with an origin in Korea. Kim immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s and obtained U.S. citizenship in 1980.
"The White House is likely to announce Kim's designation as early as tomorrow or on Thursday," the source said.
The source added Kim has already quit work as special envoy for the six-way talks on North Korean nuclear programs and started preparations for a confirmation hearing, expected to take place in July.
The White House reportedly took into account Kim's diplomatic career and expertise in Korean affairs, overriding calls for the nomination of a political heavyweight. Many observers expect upheavals in regional security conditions around 2012, when North Korea aims to become a self-styled "strong and prosperous" nation. South Korea, China and Russia will go through leadership
changes next year, and Obama is up for reelection.
Meanwhile, the U.S. plans to name Clifford Hart, foreign policy adviser to the chief of naval operations, as special envoy for the six-way talks, the source said.
