When asked during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Wednesday whether there are plans to appoint someone to the post left vacant since former envoy Julie Turner stepped down in January, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that thorough vetting procedures are currently underway to "find the right person."
He then added, "We are working through it, but obviously our intention is to have someone as the statute requires."
The post had remained vacant for nearly six years during U.S. President Donald 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 later assumed the position tasked with raising awareness of human rights abuses in North Korea.
With Turner's sudden departure after a brief stint in the position, which was belatedly revealed several months later, there have been doubts about the appointment of a new envoy under Trump's current non-consecutive second term, which appears to place less focus on international human rights issues.
reporter
Im Yoon-seo
lyseo0330@ajupress.com
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