▲ James D. Hart, Assistant Secretary of State for the United States
US Deputy State Department negotiator James D. Hart, who led the negotiations over the US-ROK defense contribution, moved to the North Pole.
In a press release on the 29th (local time), the State Department announced that former Dehart representative and chief adviser of the Arctic Circle and Minister and Deputy Minister will lead and coordinate policy-making and diplomatic involvement in matters related to the Arctic.
The Associated Press explained that Dhatt's appointment took place a week after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Denmark and announced strengthening US involvement in the Arctic.
The Arctic Circle Coordinator was established during the former Barack Obama administration to protect the interests of the United States in the Arctic and to hold back the influence of Russia and China, but has been vacant for more than three years since no election has been made since the inauguration of President Donald Trump.
Former De Haat negotiated a defense-sharing deal with South Korea seven times from September to March last year, and after the seventh round, the United States tentatively agreed to a 13% increase on the working line, but President Trump rejected it and returned to blister Went.
The negotiations have stalled, with South Korea sticking to the 13% increase and the United States demanding $1.3 billion, a nearly 50% increase.
The successor of former Dehart representative is unknown.
A State Department spokesman only responded to a media inquiry to his successor: "The United States is committed to reaching a mutually acceptable agreement with Korea. Our long-standing view is that Korea can and must make more contributions to a fair share." I did.
(Photo = Yonhap News)