ID :
199658
Mon, 08/08/2011 - 03:50
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/199658
The shortlink copeid
Senator halts confirmation of Sung Kim as U.S. envoy to Seoul: source
By Lee Chi-dong
WASHINGTON (Yonhap) - The confirmation process of Sung Kim, the nominee to become U.S. ambassador to South Korea, has hit a snag as a Republican senator has asked for a "hold" on it, a diplomatic source said Sunday.
The Senate entered a month-long summer break on Aug. 2 without confirming Kim, who went through a confirmation hearing on July 21.
Since the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations confirmed the career diplomat in late July, congressional staff reiterated that it was hard to know when he would be confirmed by the entire Senate since they were preoccupied with debt ceiling talks.
But the source privy to congressional affairs said that Kim failed to be confirmed before the recess because a Republican senator called for the suspension of the process shortly before a vote on Aug. 2.
"It has not been found yet who the senator is and the reason (for the action) also remains unknown," the source said.
It is unclear whether the senator is opposing Kim's nomination itself or seeking a temporary hold on the confirmation process for political reasons, added the source.
The confirmation of nominees for ambassadorial and ranking government posts requires unanimous approval by senators.
It took nearly four months for the current U.S. ambassador to Seoul, Kathleen Stephens to be confirmed in 2008 due to opposition by Sen. Sam Brownback who took issue with what he said a tepid stance by Stephens on North Korean human rights issue.
WASHINGTON (Yonhap) - The confirmation process of Sung Kim, the nominee to become U.S. ambassador to South Korea, has hit a snag as a Republican senator has asked for a "hold" on it, a diplomatic source said Sunday.
The Senate entered a month-long summer break on Aug. 2 without confirming Kim, who went through a confirmation hearing on July 21.
Since the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations confirmed the career diplomat in late July, congressional staff reiterated that it was hard to know when he would be confirmed by the entire Senate since they were preoccupied with debt ceiling talks.
But the source privy to congressional affairs said that Kim failed to be confirmed before the recess because a Republican senator called for the suspension of the process shortly before a vote on Aug. 2.
"It has not been found yet who the senator is and the reason (for the action) also remains unknown," the source said.
It is unclear whether the senator is opposing Kim's nomination itself or seeking a temporary hold on the confirmation process for political reasons, added the source.
The confirmation of nominees for ambassadorial and ranking government posts requires unanimous approval by senators.
It took nearly four months for the current U.S. ambassador to Seoul, Kathleen Stephens to be confirmed in 2008 due to opposition by Sen. Sam Brownback who took issue with what he said a tepid stance by Stephens on North Korean human rights issue.
