Mark Lambert takes office as new Korea director at State Department

Mark Lambert, a career U.S. diplomat with expertise in Asian affairs, has taken office as new director for Korea at the State Department, diplomatic sources said Thursday.

Lambert, who was the political counselor in Hanoi before taking the new job, succeeded Robert Rapson.

Lambert joined the Foreign Service in 1990 and is considered one of leading China experts at the department. Previous assignments included China and Japan. (Yonhap)