2007.12.20: December 20, 2007: Headlines: COS - Korea: Diplomacy: Korea Times: RPCV Kathleen Stephens, adviser at the State Department on East Asia and Pacific Affairs, appointed next ambassador to Seoul

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Korea: RPCV Kathleen Stephens, Ambassador to South Korea: Kathleen Stephens: Archive of Previous Stories: 2008.05.01: May 1, 2008: Headlines: COS - Korea: Diplomacy: Yonhap News: Senator Sam Brownback ties up appointment of Kathleen Stephens as ambassador to South Korea to North Korean human rights : 2007.12.19: December 19, 2007: Headlines: COS - Korea: Diplomacy: Hankyoreh: U.S. taps Kathleen Stephens as first female ambassador to South Korea: 2007.12.20: December 20, 2007: Headlines: COS - Korea: Diplomacy: Korea Times: RPCV Kathleen Stephens, adviser at the State Department on East Asia and Pacific Affairs, appointed next ambassador to Seoul

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-42-169.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.42.169) on Thursday, January 10, 2008 - 7:25 am: Edit Post

RPCV Kathleen Stephens, adviser at the State Department on East Asia and Pacific Affairs, appointed next ambassador to Seoul

RPCV Kathleen Stephens, adviser at the State Department on East Asia and Pacific Affairs, appointed next ambassador to Seoul

Sources said that Christopher Hill, assistant secretary of state, recommended her for the ambassadorial position for her understanding and experiences on Korean affairs. Stephens now serves as advisor to Hill, the top U.S. negotiator to North Korean nuclear talks, and reportedly is workings on a peace treaty for the Korean Peninsula.

RPCV Kathleen Stephens, adviser at the State Department on East Asia and Pacific Affairs, appointed next ambassador to Seoul

US Taps Female Ambassador to Seoul


Kathleen Stephens
By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter

The United States tapped Kathleen Stephens, adviser at the State Department on East Asia and Pacific Affairs, as the next ambassador to Seoul, according to sources Thursday.

The State Department named her as the single candidate for the post, and recently requested an official White House nomination. Stephens will replace Ambassador Alexander Vershbow next fall after the Congress confirmation hearing slated for summer.

Sources said that Christopher Hill, assistant secretary of state, recommended her for the ambassadorial position for her understanding and experiences on Korean affairs. Stephens now serves as advisor to Hill, the top U.S. negotiator to North Korean nuclear talks, and reportedly is workings on a peace treaty for the Korean Peninsula.

U.S.-based Radio Free Asia also reported that Stephens will easily get approval from the confirmation hearing because she is expected to work better with Hill than Vershbow. She showed excellent performance, particularly on the North Korean nuclear issue, while working with Hill, according to sources.

If confirmed, she will become the first female ambassador of the United States to South Korea.

However, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul refused to comment on the report but said that Vershbow will likely leave Korea next year considering U.S. ambassadors usually finish their mission here in three years. Vershbow began his job here in October 2005.

Stephens' overseas assignments were deputy chief of mission in Lisbon, Portugal, consul general in Belfast, Nothern Ireland, consular officer in Guangzhou, China, political officer in Seoul and principal officer in Busan, Korea. She joined the foreign service in 1978.

Stephen picked up the Korean language when she worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in South Korea from 1975 to 1977. She also speaks Cantonese and Mandarin.

yoonwonsup@koreatimes.co.kr




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: December, 2007; Peace Corps Korea; Directory of Korea RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Korea RPCVs; Diplomacy





When this story was posted in January 2008, this was on the front page of PCOL:


Contact PCOLBulletin BoardRegisterSearch PCOLWhat's New?

Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers RSS Feed
Dodd vows to filibuster Surveillance Act Date: October 27 2007 No: 1206 Dodd vows to filibuster Surveillance Act
Senator Chris Dodd vowed to filibuster the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that helped this administration violate the civil liberties of Americans. "It is time to say: No more. No more trampling on our Constitution. No more excusing those who violate the rule of law. These are fundamental, basic, eternal principles. They have been around, some of them, for as long as the Magna Carta. They are enduring. What they are not is temporary. And what we do not do in a time where our country is at risk is abandon them."

Peace Corps News Peace Corps Library Peace corps History RPCV Directory Sign Up

Peace Corps Volunteers Remain Safe in Kenya Date: January 5 2008 No: 1218 Peace Corps Volunteers Remain Safe in Kenya
The U.S. Peace Corps has evacuated 35 of its volunteers from western Kenya because of the violence that has rocked the country since the disputed December 27 presidential election. The Peace Corps has 144 volunteers based in Kenya, although the organization says 22 of them are currently out of the country. An agency statement says the remaining volunteers have been consolidated in a variety of locations. Latest News: Peace Corps says volunteers in Kenya remain safe.

November 12, 2007: This Month's Top Stories Date: November 12 2007 No: 1210 November 12, 2007: This Month's Top Stories
Chris Dodd's service began with Peace Corps 9 Nov
Matthew McCue called back to Iraq from Peace Corps 9 Nov
Tschetter Visits Turkmenistan 9 Nov
Lara Weber writes: Oprah Winfrey's stumble 9 Nov
Heather Thompson works with P Diddy 7 Nov
Karen Hughes' public diplomacy came to nothing 4 Nov
James Rupert writes: Musharraf seizes power 3 Nov
Martin Puryear is Man of Mysteries 2 Nov
Sarah Chayes says Taliban score major victory 1 Nov
John Sullivan runs Sudan Divestment Task Force. 30 Oct
Tom Bissell writes: Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro 28 Oct
Chris Shays to seek 12th term 25 Oct
Helen Dudley can't stop giving 25 Oct
Joseph Acaba named to STS-119 Shuttle Crew 22 Oct
Vince Floriani in USA Today's All-USA Teacher Team 22 Oct
Kelly J. Morris writes "The Bight of Benin" 20 Oct
Charles Shelan was Buddhist monk Wondam’s teacher 19 Oct
Peace Corps returning to Liberia 18 Oct
David Peckham started Village Bicycle Project 16 Oct
Alberto Ibarguen announces grant for "Project Impunity" 15 Oct
Campbell Memorial Park boosts ecotourism 15 Oct
Bowers Family keep daughter's dream alive 15 Oct

What is the greatest threat facing us now?  Date: September 12 2007 No: 1195 What is the greatest threat facing us now?
"People will say it's terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves. So what is the great threat we are facing? I would approach this differently, in almost Marshall-like terms. What are the great opportunities out there - ones that we can take advantage of?" Read more.



Read the stories and leave your comments.








Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Korea Times

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Korea; Diplomacy

PCOL40112
67


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: