{"id":2203174,"date":"2023-12-20T08:00:22","date_gmt":"2023-12-19T23:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2203174"},"modified":"2023-12-19T18:08:17","modified_gmt":"2023-12-19T09:08:17","slug":"yoon-taps-two-veteran-diplomats-for-intelligence-and-foreign-ministry-posts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/12\/yoon-taps-two-veteran-diplomats-for-intelligence-and-foreign-ministry-posts\/","title":{"rendered":"Yoon taps two veteran diplomats for intelligence and foreign ministry posts"},"content":{"rendered":"
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has <\/span>tapped<\/span><\/a> National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong as the new Director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and former Second Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul as the new Foreign Minister, according to an announcement from the ROK Presidential Office on Tuesday. The appointments fill vacancies created by former NIS Director <\/span>Kim Kyou-hyun\u2019s<\/span><\/a> recent resignation and Foreign Minister <\/span>Park Jin\u2019s<\/span><\/a> announcement that he would return to the National Assembly.<\/span><\/p>\n These appointments are part of a broader reshuffle in key government positions. Yoon has yet to nominate a candidate to fill the vacant National Security Adviser post, but local <\/span>media<\/span><\/a> has <\/span>pointed<\/span><\/a> to Chang Ho-jin, a former ROK ambassador to Russia, as a possibility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Why It Matters<\/b><\/p>\n Yoon\u2019s nominations on Tuesday reflect a shifting focus on South Korea\u2019s approach to foreign policy and trade while maintaining its emphasis on prioritizing ties with the U.S. to deter North Korea.<\/span><\/p>\n Cho Tae-yul\u2019s background as a <\/span>former deputy foreign minister<\/span><\/a> and as a <\/span>former U.N. ambassador<\/span><\/a> indicates the Yoon administration\u2019s aim to strengthen South Korea\u2019s global standing \u2014 particularly as South Korea is set to serve as a <\/span>non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council<\/span><\/a> from 2024 to 2025.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Cho Tae-yong\u2019s background as a National Security Adviser, a South Korean ambassador to the U.S. and experience in <\/span>North Korean denuclearization negotiations<\/span><\/a> signal a continued emphasis on addressing regional security challenges, particularly the North Korean threat. His expertise aligns with the Yoon administration\u2019s priorities in reinforcing U.S.-ROK security and <\/span>intelligence<\/span><\/a> cooperation<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In addition, the Presidential Office\u2019s <\/span>announcement<\/span><\/a> that it plans to create a new post at the National Security Office \u2014 a third deputy director who will focus on \u201ceconomic security\u201d \u2014 reflects South Korea\u2019s goal to strengthen supply chains against external variables and to partially separate the executive office\u2019s economic portfolio from foreign policy.<\/span><\/p>\n