U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo geared up for a fourth visit to North Korea, which he said Thursday was scheduled for next week, by announcing the filling of the long-open position of special representative to the nuclear-armed country.
Pompeo's naming of Steve Biegun, a former Ford Motor Co. executive and veteran Republican foreign policy hand, as the U.S. special envoy to North Korea comes at a crucial moment in negotiations to persuade Pyongyang to relinquish its nuclear weapons.
"Steve will direct U.S. policy towards North Korea and lead our efforts to achieve President (Donald) Trump's goal of the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea, as agreed to by Chairman Kim Jong Un," Pompeo said.