Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has nominated Allison Hooker, a former White House official involved in North Korean diplomacy during his first term, as under secretary of state for political affairs.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the president informed Congress of his decision to nominate Hooker, who previously held the position of senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council. This role was pivotal for U.S. policy toward the Indo-Pacific region. The nomination follows Trump's expressed willingness to reengage with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his commitment to pursuing the "complete denuclearization of North Korea."
Hooker's involvement in Trump's first administration was significant, as she played a central role in preparing for 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. Her experience includes over a decade as a senior analyst for North Korea in the Department of State's Bureau of Intelligence and Research from 2001 to 2014. Additionally, she was a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs fellow in South Korea from 2013 to 2014.
Before this nomination, Hooker was considered a potential candidate for the position of U.S. ambassador to South Korea. In another key nomination, Trump has chosen Thomas DiNanno, a former deputy assistant secretary of state, as under secretary of state for arms control and international security. This position addresses issues related to America's extended deterrence commitments to South Korea.
The Hudson Institute's website notes that DiNanno previously led U.S. extended deterrence engagements with South Korea, Japan, and Australia, and participated in the U.S.-China Space Security Dialogue in Beijing in 2019. Extended deterrence involves the U.S.' promise to use its full military capabilities, including nuclear arms, to protect its allies.