U.S. President Donald Trump has tapped nuke envoy Stephen Biegun for the number two job at the State Department.
With Biegun to keep his role in negotiations with North Korea even if he's confirmed for the position,... there's hope that denuclearization talks could pick up speed.
Kim Min-ji reports.
U.S. Special Envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun has been tapped as the next deputy secretary of state.
If he passes his confirmation hearing,... Biegun will take over from John Sullivan, who has been nominated to be U.S. ambassador to Russia.
But despite the new role,... Biegun will still be involved in negotiations with North Korea.
Biegun became Washington's point-man on North Korea in 2018 to lead efforts to negotiate the regime's denuclearization.
Given that it's unprecedented to hold two roles experts see the nomination as an indication that President Trump is determined to make progress on the denuclearization front.
Without a doubt, it will be positive for North Korea-U.S. talks. For starters, while President Trump and Secretary of State Pompeo are preoccupied with domestic politics,... Biegun can play a more influential role in negotiations with Pyeongyang... with his higher status. Also, if Pompeo decides to run for a senate seat as reports suggest,... that would give Biegun more authority to make decisions and directly communicate with the president."
But for now,... it appears that there are no behind-the-scenes efforts to reignite denuclearization talks.
That's according to South Korea's Ambassador to the U.S. Lee Soo-hyuck,... who spoke to reporters following a 40 minute conservation with Biegun on Thursday local time,.. just hours before his nomination.
Lee added that from what's he heard from South Korean and U.S. officials, he doesn't get the impression that it's over,... saying that it's not appropriate to describe recent working level talks in Sweden as a breakdown.
Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.
