Three Names on Short List for New Korean Ambassador
Ever since former U.S. ambassador to South Korea Christopher Hill was promoted to Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific affairs, the ambassador's position in South Korea has been vacant. With the controversy over North Korea the position is one of significance.
It is thought that the U.S. administration has narrowed its list of candidates down to three, diplomatic sources in Seoul have announced.
Possible candidates include U.S. Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow, former U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Mickey Kantor, according to the sources.
Vershbow, who started his diplomatic career in 1977, is a Russia expert specializing in European security and issues related to weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). He served as ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from 1998 to 2001.
A diplomatic source in Washington said that the selection process for the U.S. ambassador's post in Korea is almost complete, with Vershbow the most likely candidate. Critics in Seoul, however, point out his lack of experience on the Korean Peninsula.
Boucher, who resigned as State Department spokesman last week, nether confirmed nor denied a rumor that he is one of the candidates for the position.
Boucher, who served as ambassador to Cyprus and as consul-general to Hong Kong, has been a Foreign Service official for nearly 30 years. He began his career as a consular officer in China.
The third name circulating is Mickey Kantor, a close confidant to former U.S. president Bill Clinton, is an expert on international trade.
It is thought that the U.S. administration has narrowed its list of candidates down to three, diplomatic sources in Seoul have announced.
Possible candidates include U.S. Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow, former U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Mickey Kantor, according to the sources.
Vershbow, who started his diplomatic career in 1977, is a Russia expert specializing in European security and issues related to weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). He served as ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from 1998 to 2001.
A diplomatic source in Washington said that the selection process for the U.S. ambassador's post in Korea is almost complete, with Vershbow the most likely candidate. Critics in Seoul, however, point out his lack of experience on the Korean Peninsula.
Boucher, who resigned as State Department spokesman last week, nether confirmed nor denied a rumor that he is one of the candidates for the position.
Boucher, who served as ambassador to Cyprus and as consul-general to Hong Kong, has been a Foreign Service official for nearly 30 years. He began his career as a consular officer in China.
The third name circulating is Mickey Kantor, a close confidant to former U.S. president Bill Clinton, is an expert on international trade.
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