The United States is expected to replace its acting ambassador to South Korea ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit later this month, sources say.
Seoul: Acting US Ambassador to South Korea, Joseph Yun, is expected to step down around next Sunday, nine months after assuming the role earlier this year, according to diplomatic sources cited by Yonhap News Agency. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kevin Kim has been mentioned as Yun’s potential replacement.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit South Korea from 29–30 October for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. The ambassadorial change comes ahead of this visit, signalling Washington’s focus on diplomatic engagement in the region.
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On Friday, the top military officers of South Korea and the United States held phone talks to discuss alliance strengthening. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Chairman General Jin Yong-sung and his US counterpart, General Dan Caine, emphasised the stable security situation on the Korean Peninsula and the importance of deterring North Korean threats through combined defence measures. Further discussions are planned during the bilateral Military Committee Meeting in Seoul next month.
South Korea and the United States are actively negotiating Korea’s $350 billion investment commitment under a trade deal signed in July. Kim Yong-beom, South Korea’s presidential chief of staff for policy, described the talks as being conducted in the “most earnest and constructive” atmosphere to date. South Korean officials, including Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, are visiting Washington to expedite discussions.
The ambassadorial change and ongoing military and trade talks underscore the strategic importance of US-South Korea relations, particularly in maintaining regional security and advancing economic commitments ahead of high-level meetings.
(With IANS inputs)
Published: 19 Oct 2025, 05:16 pm IST
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