South Korea taps new envoys to Washington and Tokyo ahead of key summits this week

From left Kang Kyung-wha Lee Hyuk and Noh Kyu-duk Yonhap — From left, Kang Kyung-wha, Lee Hyuk and Noh Kyu-duk. Yonhap

SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung is expected to soon appoint new envoys to the U.S. and Japan, ahead of his summits with the leaders of both countries that begin later this week.

According to government sources, former Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has been named ambassador to Washington, and former envoy to Viet Nam Lee Hyuk has been tapped as ambassador to Tokyo, with their agrément procedures currently underway.

Lee is scheduled to sit for talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo on Saturday, before flying to Washington for his first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, since taking office in June.

Kang served as South Korea's first female foreign minister under former President Moon Jae-in, working with top U.S. officials during Trump's first term from 2017 to 2021. She also served as a senior adviser at the United Nations (UN) and currently heads New York-based think tank Asia Society, which fosters relations between the U.S. and Asian countries.

Lee, who held ambassadorial posts in the Philippines and Viet Nam, is known to be well-versed in affairs with Japan.

Meanwhile, Noh Kyu-duk, former chief negotiator in denuclearization talks with North Korea, has also been tapped as ambassador to the UN.

Im Yoon-seo lyseo0330@ajupress.com