Category: US Government

Here is who should soon be the next U.S. ambassador to South Korea:

U.S. President Donald Trump nominated Michelle Park Steel, Monday (local time), a former Republican congresswoman from California, as ambassador to South Korea, a move that could end a vacancy that has lasted for more than 15 months.

If confirmed by the Senate, Steel would become the second Korean American to serve in the post, after former Ambassador Sung Kim, who served from 2011 to 2014. 

Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul welcomed the nomination, with foreign ministry spokesperson Park Il saying Korea is in close communication with the U.S. and that Steel, if formally appointed, “is expected to contribute to strengthening bilateral ties and promoting friendship between the two countries.”

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

It looks like reporters are trying other get Hegseth to say something that North Korea is next and he didn’t take the bait. There is no reason to be making any threats towards North Korea:

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that U.S. efforts to deal with Iran’s nuclear ambitions will send “plenty of signals,” as he addressed a question related to North Korea’s criticism of the ongoing U.S. military operation against the Islamic Republic.

Hegseth made the remarks during a press briefing on the military operation, codenamed “Operation Epic Fury,” which kicked off in coordination with Israel on Saturday.

“As it pertains to other countries … they don’t really bear on the case of Iran,” the secretary said. “We’re going to deal with Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and that will send plenty of signals in the process.”

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

It will be interesting to see how Korea reacts to this latest tariff news:

U.S. President Donald Trump warned Monday that any country that wants to “play games” with last week’s Supreme Court ruling against his administration’s emergency tariffs, will face a “much higher” tariff.

Trump issued the warning in a social media post after the high court ruled Friday against his use of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify country-specific “reciprocal” tariffs and other duties in a major setback to his trade policy.

“Any Country that wants to ‘play games’ with the ridiculous supreme court decision, especially those that have ‘Ripped Off’ the U.S.A. for years, and even decades, will be met with a much higher Tariff, and worse, than that which they just recently agreed to,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“BUYER BEWARE!!!,” he added.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

It looks like more American coal could soon be heading to South Korea:

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday his administration has clinched “historic” trade agreements with South Korea, Japan, India and other countries to boost US coal exports “dramatically.”

Trump made the remarks during the “champion of coal” event, underlining his support for coal mining.

“In just the past few months, we’ve made historic trade deals with Japan, Korea, India and others to increase our coal exports dramatically,” he said at the White House event. “We are now exporting coal to all over the world.”

Korea Herald

You can read more at the link.

Hopefully China doesn’t take this as a signal to become more aggressive against Taiwan:

A new U.S. national defense strategy released Friday puts protection of the homeland and access to strategic terrain in the Western Hemisphere atop the military’s agenda, marking a shift from the Pentagon’s previous position that countering China was the Defense Department’s number one pacing threat. The Pentagon’s long-awaited new plan lines up with the White House’s National Security Strategy, released last month, and prioritizes border security, targeting drug traffickers and “fearlessly” defending “America’s interests across the hemisphere.” “We will guarantee U.S. military and commercial access to key terrain, especially the Panama Canal, Gulf of America, and Greenland,” the document states. “We will provide President Trump with credible military options to use against narco-terrorists wherever they may be.”

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.

I wonder if Ambassador Kim even had enough time to get his household goods delivered before getting sent back to D.C.? Two months in position in a really short time:

Acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim has left his post in Seoul and returned to the United States, amid expectations he may be assigned a new role in the Trump administration related to Korea issues, diplomatic sources said Wednesday. 

Kim’s unexpected departure came just about two months after he took up the post as charge d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul in October last year. 

Kim took on the top embassy position in an acting capacity to fill a prolonged vacancy after former U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Philip Goldberg left the post following the launch of the second Trump administration. 

Kim recently informed Seoul officials he was leaving his post, according to multiple diplomatic sources. He reportedly returned to the U.S. around Christmas. 

Jim Heller, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, is expected to serve as charge d’affaires until a new ambassador is appointed. 

Sources say that Kim could be tapped for a new role handling Korea-related issues, possibly a position tasked with implementing the summit agreements reached between the allies on security and other matters, or dealing with North Korea issues.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

This act has been reintroduced periodically since 2008 and hopefully this latest renewal if approved will authorize for Radio Free Asia to resume broadcasting into North Korea:

This file photo, taken March 25, 2024, shows U.S. Rep. Young Kim speaking during a visit to South Korea’s unification ministry in Seoul. (Yonhap)

A U.S. lawmaker has reintroduced a bill to reauthorize the North Korean Human Rights Act aimed at promoting rights and freedom in the reclusive state, Congress’s website showed Monday, as the authorization of the act expired in 2022.

On Friday, Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) introduced the bill, with Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) co-sponsoring it. First adopted in 2004, the North Korean Human Rights Act is updated and reauthorized periodically. It was extended in 2008, 2012 and 2018 with the last extension having expired in September 2022.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

I think Trump was probably referring to any provocation that happens on the peninsula he would use his relationship with Kim Jong-un to get it resolved:

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States will “get the conflict solved” with North Korea if there is one, reiterating that he has had a “good” relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Trump made the remarks during a press availability, apparently reiterating his openness to reengaging with the recalcitrant regime, as his administration has stated its commitment to the “complete denuclearization” of North Korea.

“If there is a conflict … I get along with him very, very well, and we’ll get the conflict solved with North Korea,” Trump said, when asked to confirm an NK News report that he had sent a letter to Kim, which North Korean diplomats in New York refused to accept.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

Bill Clinton was touring the sites in downtown Seoul and what I found of interest is who I did not see with him, which is Hillary Clinton:

Photos and videos of former U.S. President Bill Clinton apparently sightseeing in central Seoul have been shared online, raising speculation over the nature of seemingly his first visit to South Korea in decades. 

The posts, shared on social media and online communities, showed the former U.S. president reportedly visiting the Gwanghwamun and Insadong areas, popular tourist destinations in the South Korean capital, on Sunday. 

Some posts showed Clinton taking photos with locals and exchanging conversation. 

During his presidency, Clinton visited South Korea in November 1998 for a summit with then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

It will be interesting to see if these general officer cuts will have any impact on USFK:

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday announced he has directed the Defense Department to cut at least 20% of its four-star generals and admirals, along with other reductions across the military. “We’re back with more [Defense Department] reforms, this one is general and flag officer reductions.

That’s the official title,” Hegseth said in a video posted on X. “My title is less generals, more GIs.” Hegseth, in a memorandum signed Monday, also called for cuts of at least 20% of general officers in the National Guard and at least 10% of its general and flag officers across the military, which could include one-stars or above. In Hegseth’s video message, he said the cuts would occur in two phases, the first being among the four-stars and the National Guard.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.