President Donald Trump plans to nominate former White House official Victor Cha as U.S. ambassador to South Korea, Yonhap News Agency reported Sunday, citing unnamed sources.
The report stated the Trump administration had made a request to the South Korean government to approve the appointment. Speculation has existed since last summer that Cha would be the president's pick for the post that has been vacant since Trump took office.
"We are working closely (with the U.S. government) to enable (Cha) to take office early," an official at South Korea's foreign ministry said. "We cannot confirm whether the agreement has been sent and any relevant procedures at this stage."
Sources said they expected Seoul to quickly approve the nomination. Cha, a Korean-American, would replace Mark Lippert, who served in Seoul during the administration of former President Barack Obama.
Cha was director for Asian affairs in the administration of former President George W. Bush. He is currently the Korea Chair at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies and director of Asian studies at Georgetown University's Department of Government and School of Foreign Service.
In an opinion piece published in The Washington Post last July, Cha called for a new approach to diplomacy towards North Korea, arguing that China must be a central part of future negotiations.
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