New under secretary, noted for NK expertise, kicks off State Dept. work

Allison Hooker, left, currently U.S. under secretary of state for political affairs, speaks with Stephen Biegun, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea in this Dec. 16, 2019 file photo. Korea Times file

A new senior U.S. diplomat, noted for her expertise on diplomacy with North Korea, has begun her State Department work amid expectations on her role for the possible resumption of dialogue with the recalcitrant regime.

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker started her official duty last week after the Senate confirmed her in a 59-36 vote last Tuesday, according to the department's schedule and Congress' website.

Hooker undertook the senior-level position as U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled his openness to reengage with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, with his administration pursuing the "complete denuclearization" of North Korea.

She previously served as senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council, a key post for U.S. policy toward the Indo-Pacific. She was deeply involved in preparations for Trump's summits with North Korean leader Kim in Singapore in June 2018, Hanoi in February 2019 and the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom in June 2019.

From 2001-2014, Hooker served as a senior analyst for North Korea in the Department of State's Bureau of Intelligence and Research. She was also selected as the 2013-2014 Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs fellow in South Korea.

Before the nomination, she had been mentioned as a possible candidate for U.S. ambassador to South Korea.