Posted by on April 24, 2018 8:04 pm
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Categories: Breaking News! Column 1

Trump plans to nominate Admiral Harry Harris as ambassador to South Korea ahead of North Korea summit: NBC News, citing sources

Commander of the US Pacific Command, Admiral Harry Harris

Toru Hana | AFP | Getty Images
Commander of the US Pacific Command, Admiral Harry Harris

President Donald Trump plans to nominate Admiral Harry Harris, commander of Pacific Command, to be the ambassador to South Korea, NBC News reported citing sources familiar with the situation.

Harris had originally been the president’s pick for ambassador to Australia, a key U.S. ally. His confirmation hearing for that post was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but it was postponed. He was widely expected to be confirmed.

In his 2014 confirmation hearing to be commander of Pacific Command, Harris said he believed North Korea to be the “most volatile and dangerous threat” in the region.

 Last year, before the House Armed Services Committee, Harris said North Korea’s continued success in nuclear tests will only spur Kim Jong Un further down “this reckless and dangerous path.”

But the admiral emphasized that in dealing with North Korea, the U.S. must “be guided by a strong sense of resolve both publicly and privately in order to bring Kim Jong Un to his senses, not his knees.”

The news comes after the Senate Foreign Relations committee on Monday endorsed Mike Pompeo for secretary of State.

The role of ambassador to South Korea was one of many vacancies in the State Department amid negotiations for a summit between Trump and Kim.

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