United States President Barrack Obama has nominated a former envoy to South Korea as new ambassador to the Philippines, the White House announced.

In a statement, the White House said Obama has expressed his intent to nominate Sung Y. Kim as US ambassador to the Philippines.

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BACKSTORY: Obama names next envoy to Philippines

Kim is a career member of the US foreign service and is the special representative for North Korea Policy. He has also been the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs at the Department of State since 2014.

Before that, he was the US ambassador to South Korea (2011 to 2014).

He was also special envoy for the Six Party Talks from 2008 to 2011, director of the Office of Korean Affairs in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs from 2006 to 2008, and political-military chief at the US Embassy in Seoul, Korea from 2002 to 2006.

Since joining the US Foreign Service in 1988, he has also served in Hong Kong, Japan and Malaysia.

“Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Mr. Kim was a Deputy District Attorney in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Mr. Kim received a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, a J.D. from Loyola Law School, and an LL.M. from the London School of Economics and Political Science,” the White House said.

Kim, who was born in Seoul, Korea, was raised in Los Angeles. He completed degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and the Loyola University, and obtained a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics.

Obama also nominated the following people to key administration posts:

Ysaÿe M. Barnwell – Member, National Council on the Arts

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Daniel Becker – Member, Board of Directors of the State Justice Institute

Rena Bitter – Ambassador to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Department of State

Anne S. Casper – Ambassador to the Republic of Burundi, Department of State

Geoffrey R. Pyatt – Ambassador to Greece, Department of State

Douglas Silliman – Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq, Department of State

Marie L. Yovanovitch – Ambassador to Ukraine, Department of State

Their appointment will be subject to US Senate confirmation.

Philip Goldberg currently serves as US ambassador to the Philippines. IDL/rga

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