Obama picks Kerry as secretary of state

WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- President Barack Obama nominated Sen. John Kerry as secretary of state on Friday, commencing a widely anticipated reshuffle of his national security team.

"In a sense, John's entire life has prepared him for this role," Obama said as he announced the decision at the Roosevelt Room of the White House with Kerry and Vice President Joe Biden standing next to him.

The son of a Foreign Service officer, Kerry has a "deep respect for the men and women of the State Department," Obama said.

"Having served with valor in Vietnam, he understands that we have a responsibility to use American power wisely, especially our military power," Obama added. "In an extraordinarily distinguished Senate career -- and as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee -- John has played a central role in every major foreign policy debate for nearly 30 years."

Sen. John Kerry, nominee for secretary of state.

If confirmed, the Massachusetts senator will replace Hillary Clinton, who has expressed her intent to end her service at the department.

Obama said Clinton wanted to join the press conference to announce Kerry's nomination, but she "continues to recuperate" from a stomach virus.

Clinton instead issued a written congratulatory statement.

"John Kerry has been tested -- in war, in government, and in diplomacy. Time and again, he has proven his mettle," she said.

Kerry, who was the Democratic nominee for president in 2004, is arguably a big shot in U.S. diplomatic circles.

Given his long service in the Senate, Kerry, 69, is widely expected to win easy confirmation from his Senate colleagues.

He is known to have a good understanding of Asia affairs and the Korean Peninsula.

During his presidential campaign, he said he was open to bilateral talks with North Korea, if necessary, in addition to multilateral denuclearization talks.

Kerry met with North Korea's nuclear envoy, Ri Yong-ho, in New York in March. Ri was there to attend an informal security conference.

Following Pyongyang's rocket launch earlier this month, Kerry released a statement saying such behavior will only deepen its isolation.

Analysts expressed hopes that Kerry will take a role in easing tensions on the peninsula.

"He likely will make a new effort to restart some kind of nuclear negotiation with North Korea," said Larry Niksch, senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Meanwhile, Obama reportedly plans to choose former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska as his new secretary of defense to succeed Leon Panetta.