Posted on Truth Social
Donald Trump, President of the United States, on the 11th (local time) nominated Michael DeSombre, former Ambassador to Thailand, as the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, responsible for working-level matters related to Korea and North Korea.
President Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, which he founded, "I am pleased to announce that Ambassador DeSombre has been nominated as the next Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs."
Former Ambassador DeSombre served as the Ambassador to Thailand from March 2020 until January 20 of the following year, when President Trump's first term ended. He has long worked as an attorney at the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell, where he is currently still affiliated.
President Trump stated that DeSombre "oversees Asia mergers and acquisitions as well as Korean and Southeast Asian affairs at the firm." He also added, "DeSombre graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School and earned a bachelor's degree in econometrics and a master's degree in East Asian studies from Stanford University. His master's thesis topic was 'China's Nuclear Weapons Strategy.'"
President Trump emphasized, "I am confident that Michael will work tremendously hard for our country."
Former Ambassador DeSombre was also strongly considered as a successor to then-Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russell during Trump's first term. It is known that his wife is Korean, enabling him to speak everyday Korean, and he is also proficient in Chinese.
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