Korean-American Yun named U.S. ambassador to Malaysia

WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― Joseph Yun, a Korean-American career diplomat, has been nominated to become U.S. ambassador to Malaysia, a diplomatic source said Tuesday.

Yun has served as deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs since Kurt Campbell left the position last month.

The source said Yun will succeed Paul Jones, the current ambassador to Malaysia, in September.

Born in South Korea, Yun migrated to the U.S. with his parents when he was an elementary student.

He joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1985 and worked in South Korea, Thailand, France, Indonesia and Hong Kong.

As principal deputy assistant secretary handling Southeast Asian affairs, he is known to have played a major role in the recent U.S. diplomacy with Myanmar.

The State Department refused to comments on Yun’s next job, saying the White House is in charge of making public the nomination of any new ambassador.