According to the U.S. Department of State, Julie Turner who "worked over the past 20 years to strengthen democratic institutions and promote human rights throughout the East Asia and Pacific Region" now serves as the acting deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
With the launch of President Donald Trump's non-consecutive second term in January this year, the seasoned diplomat left the post, ending her brief stint from October 2023 to January 2025.
The post had remained vacant for nearly six years during Trump's first term after he declined to nominate a successor to then-envoy Robert King. After the prolonged vacancy, Turner was nominated by former U.S. President Joe Biden in January 2023 and confirmed by the Senate several months later to serve in the position tasked with raising awareness of human rights abuses in North Korea.
Pundits are speculating about her sudden departure, alongside other envoys, in what appears to be part of a broader restructuring of U.S. diplomatic and human rights policy under the returning Trump administration.
A State Department official said Trump may "name a new envoy or opt to leave the position unfilled once again."
reporter
Im Yoon-seo
lyseo0330@ajupress.com
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