New US envoy arrives in Seoul

By Kim Young-jin

Sung Kim, the new U.S. ambassador to South Korea, vowed Thursday to do his utmost to bolster the already-tight alliance, as he arrived to begin his posting.

Kim, the first Korean-American to serve in the role, touched down at Incheon International Airport in the late afternoon and headed to Seoul where he was expected to hand in his credentials to the South Korean government.

"It is truly an honor for me to return to the country of my birth to represent the United States," Kim told reporters upon arriving.

"The relationship between our two countries is one of the most precious and important partnerships we have anywhere. I look forward very much to sharing my experience with Korean friends as we work together to advance our relations."

His arrival has been highly anticipated here given he is the first Korean-American to take the post since the allies forged diplomatic ties 129 years ago. He replaces Kathleen Stephens after her three-year stint.

Kim, formerly the U.S. envoy to the six-party talks on North Korea’s denuclearization, said the best way to deal with Pyongyang was continued coordination between Washington and Seoul.

"And as the U.S. ambassador to Seoul, I obviously will be working very hard to help coordinate our approaches to North Korea," he said.

Kim was born in South Korea but moved to the United States in the 1970s where he later became a citizen. In Washington, he focused much of his attention on the bilateral alliance and became the envoy to the six-party talks on Pyongyang’s denuclearization. His wife is Korean and he is fluent in the language.

His appointment has been met largely with pride in the South, though some have raised the possibility that he could get caught between the interests of his country and expectations from the people of his birth country.

Kim, who arrived with his wife and two daughters, has downplayed such concerns, saying he is totally committed to continuing the alliance that is experiencing a heyday under the leadership of Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Barack Obama.

His arrival came after a drawn-out confirmation process.

He initially had a confirmation hearing on July 21, but Jon Kyl (R-AZ), an assistant minority leader in the Senate, and others reportedly blocked the proceedings for a time in a show of displeasure over the North Korea policy of the Obama administration.