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U.S. envoy for six-way talks still without ambassador title: source
ByPublished : Aug. 18, 2011 - 19:51
WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to give an ambassador title to Clifford Hart, a State Department official in charge of nuclear talks with North Korea, and that is why there has been no announcement of his new position, diplomatic sources here said Wednesday.
Hart, formerly foreign policy adviser to the chief of naval operations, apparently replaced Sung Kim as special envoy to the six-way talks on North Korea’s nuclear program in June, when Kim was nominated as ambassador to South Korea.
Hart, a veteran diplomat, attended two days of high-level meetings between Washington and Pyongyang in New York last month.
But the U.S. government has not announced his new post at the State Department.
In response to a media inquiry, a department official only said, “He is working diligently on Korean affairs.”
The diplomatic sources said a delay in the announcement is attributable to the White House’s plan to grant him ambassadorial status.
“The State Department appoints the special envoy for the six-party talks, but the White House announces a nominee for an ambassadorial position,” a source said, requesting anonymity. “The government appears to be planning to give Hart an ambassador title as well.”
When Sung Kim was named special envoy for the six-way talks, he also was nominated for ambassadorial status, which requires Senate confirmation.
Officials at the White House and State Department may feel there is no rush with Hart because the six-way talks are suspended and Kim has not yet been confirmed as ambassador to Seoul, the source said.
Obama was preoccupied with the debt ceiling showdown throughout July and now is focused on declining confidence in the U.S. economy.
The president is scheduled to begin a 10-day summer vacation on Thursday after a three-day bus tour to the Midwest.
“The announcement of the new special envoy for the six-way talks is likely to be made as early as September,” another source said.
Hart is expected to travel to South Korea and other member nations of the six-way talks after being formally appointed, added the source. The on-again, off-again negotiations also involve China, Japan and Russia.
Hart, formerly foreign policy adviser to the chief of naval operations, apparently replaced Sung Kim as special envoy to the six-way talks on North Korea’s nuclear program in June, when Kim was nominated as ambassador to South Korea.
Hart, a veteran diplomat, attended two days of high-level meetings between Washington and Pyongyang in New York last month.
But the U.S. government has not announced his new post at the State Department.
In response to a media inquiry, a department official only said, “He is working diligently on Korean affairs.”
The diplomatic sources said a delay in the announcement is attributable to the White House’s plan to grant him ambassadorial status.
“The State Department appoints the special envoy for the six-party talks, but the White House announces a nominee for an ambassadorial position,” a source said, requesting anonymity. “The government appears to be planning to give Hart an ambassador title as well.”
When Sung Kim was named special envoy for the six-way talks, he also was nominated for ambassadorial status, which requires Senate confirmation.
Officials at the White House and State Department may feel there is no rush with Hart because the six-way talks are suspended and Kim has not yet been confirmed as ambassador to Seoul, the source said.
Obama was preoccupied with the debt ceiling showdown throughout July and now is focused on declining confidence in the U.S. economy.
The president is scheduled to begin a 10-day summer vacation on Thursday after a three-day bus tour to the Midwest.
“The announcement of the new special envoy for the six-way talks is likely to be made as early as September,” another source said.
Hart is expected to travel to South Korea and other member nations of the six-way talks after being formally appointed, added the source. The on-again, off-again negotiations also involve China, Japan and Russia.
