U.S. Navy Admiral Harry Harris Jr, head of the Pacific Command, attends at a Fullerton Lecture on "Challenges, Opportunities and Innovation in the Indo-Asia-Pacific", in Singapore Thomson Reuters By David Brunnstrom and John Walcott

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration plans to nominate Admiral Harry Harris, the head of the U.S. Pacific Command who has already been nominated to be the next U.S. ambassador to Australia, to fill the long-vacant post of ambassador to South Korea instead, two senior U.S. officials said on Tuesday.

Another source with knowledge of the situation said President Donald Trump's nominee to be secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, had asked Harris to take the post in Seoul, which has been vacant since Trump took office in January last year.

"He is a good officer and was asked directly by Pompeo to fill this ambassadorship hole," the source said.

Two senior U.S. officials confirmed the plan to nominate Harris. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity and there was no immediate comment from the White House.

Trump nominated Harris, who is known for his hawkish views on China's military expansion, to serve as the American ambassador to Australia in February, but filling the key post in Seoul post has become even more of a priority as diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis over North Korea's nuclear weapons have intensified.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in is due to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in a summit on Thursday and Trump has said he will hold an unprecedented meeting with Kim himself in May or June.

Pompeo told his Senate confirmation hearing this month that filling the Seoul post and a handful of others required "immediate attention."

"I will find what I believe to be the best fit to execute America's diplomatic mission around the world," he said.

The White House said in February it was no longer considering Victor Cha, a former official who questioned the wisdom of a preventative military strike on North Korea that was being mulled by the administration as a possibility earlier this year.

Harris told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee last month the United States could not be overly optimistic about the outcome of a Trump-Kim summit and must go into it with "eyes wide open."

He said he was encouraged by the prospect of a summit, but that North Korea remained the biggest security threat in the Asia-Pacific region.

Harris said he believed Kim would like to see a reunification of the Korean peninsula under his rule, and sought respect, status and security through the possession of nuclear weapons.</s>WASHINGTON, April 24 (Reuters) - The Trump administration plans to nominate Admiral Harry Harris, the head of the U.S. Pacific Command who has been nominated to be the next U.S. ambassador to Australia, to fill the long-vacant post of ambassador to South Korea instead, a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday.

Another source with knowledge of the situation said President Donald Trump's nominee to be secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, had asked Harris to take the post in Seoul, which has been vacant since Trump took office in January last year.

Both sources spoke on condition of anonymity. There was no immediate comment from the White House. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom and John Walcott Editing by James Dalgleish)</s>The Trump administration plans to nominate Admiral Harry Harris, the head of the U.S. Pacific Command already nominated to be the next U.S. ambassador to Australia, to fill the long-vacant post of ambassador to South Korea instead, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump's nominee to be secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, had asked Harris to take the key post in Seoul, which has been vacant since Trump took office in January last year, a source with knowledge of the situation said.

Three U.S. officials confirmed the plan to nominate Harris, who was in Washington on Tuesday for a Senate committee hearing on his Australia nomination. That hearing was postponed indefinitely.

“The national security situation on the Korean Peninsula is of the highest priority,” one of the officials said when asked to confirm the switch in nominations. "Our relationship with Australia is and remains steadfast."

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump nominated Harris, who is known for hawkish views on China's military expansion, to serve as ambassador to Australia in February, but filling the Seoul post has become even more of a priority as diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis over North Korea's nuclear weapons have intensified.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in is due to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday and Trump has said he will hold an unprecedented summit with Kim himself in May or June.

Pompeo told his Senate confirmation hearing this month that filling Seoul and a handful of other diplomatic posts required"immediate attention."

"I will find what I believe to be the best fit to execute America's diplomatic mission around the world," he said.

The White House said in February it was no longer considering Victor Cha, a former official who questioned the wisdom of a preventative military strike on North Korea being mulled by the administration earlier this year.

Harris told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee last month Washington could not be overly optimistic about the outcome of a Trump-Kim summit and must go into it with "eyes wide open."

He said he was encouraged by the prospect of a summit, but North Korea remained the biggest Asia-Pacific security threat.

Harris said he believed Kim would like to see reunification of the Korean peninsula under his rule, and sought respect, status and security through the possession of nuclear weapons.

Trump said on Tuesday Kim had been "very honorable" and discussions on a planned summit were going well, but tempered expectations for any quick denuclearization deal by saying "it may be we're all wasting a lot of time."

Andrew Shearer, a former Australian national security adviser now at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said there would be "intense disappointment" in Australia - like South Korea, a U.S. ally - about the switch in nominations.

"Harris is well known and highly respected there, and his nomination enjoyed strong bipartisan support. There's no doubt he would have been a highly effective advocate at a time when there is growing debate in Australia about the U.S. alliance and its implications for the country's substantial economic interests in China.

"It would be surprising if the Australia government doesn’t feel let down," he said. "That said, no one doubts the urgency of the North Korea threat and Canberra has little choice but to take it on the chin."</s>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration plans to nominate Admiral Harry Harris, the head of the U.S. Pacific Command who has already been nominated to be the next U.S. ambassador to Australia, to fill the long-vacant post of ambassador to South Korea instead, two senior U.S. officials said on Tuesday.

Another source with knowledge of the situation said President Donald Trump’s nominee to be secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, had asked Harris to take the post in Seoul, which has been vacant since Trump took office in January last year.

“He is a good officer and was asked directly by Pompeo to fill this ambassadorship hole,” the source said.

Two senior U.S. officials confirmed the plan to nominate Harris. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity and there was no immediate comment from the White House.

Trump nominated Harris, who is known for his hawkish views on China’s military expansion, to serve as the American ambassador to Australia in February, but filling the key post in Seoul post has become even more of a priority as diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis over North Korea’s nuclear weapons have intensified.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in is due to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in a summit on Thursday and Trump has said he will hold an unprecedented meeting with Kim himself in May or June.

Pompeo told his Senate confirmation hearing this month that filling the Seoul post and a handful of others required “immediate attention.”

“I will find what I believe to be the best fit to execute America’s diplomatic mission around the world,” he said.

The White House said in February it was no longer considering Victor Cha, a former official who questioned the wisdom of a preventative military strike on North Korea that was being mulled by the administration as a possibility earlier this year.

Harris told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee last month the United States could not be overly optimistic about the outcome of a Trump-Kim summit and must go into it with “eyes wide open.”

He said he was encouraged by the prospect of a summit, but that North Korea remained the biggest security threat in the Asia-Pacific region.

Harris said he believed Kim would like to see a reunification of the Korean peninsula under his rule, and sought respect, status and security through the possession of nuclear weapons.</s>Adm. Harry Harris, the top US military official overseeing operations across Asia who had been tapped as ambassador to Australia, is likely to be named instead as US ambassador to South Korea, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.

Moving Harris, who currently serves as commander of US Pacific Command, was Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo's idea, ahead of potential talks between President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, the sources said.

One source told CNN that Pompeo has proposed the switch pending Trump's blessing.

Harris' confirmation hearing to be ambassador to Australia was scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed.

"At the request of the administration, the hearing has been postponed until early May," said Micah Johnson, a spokeswoman for Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker.

While Seoul is arguably the most important diplomatic post with potential Kim talks looming, Australia is also a "Five Eyes" intelligence-sharing partner that would need a new ambassador to go through the confirmation process if Harris shifts. The White House did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment. first reported plans to move Harris to South Korea. first reported plans to move Harris to South Korea. The Washington Post first reported plans to move Harris to South Korea. During his tenure at Pacific Command, Harris has not minced words about North Korea's ambitions. US forces in the Pacific "must be prepared to fight tonight, so I take him at his word," he said last year about Kim's intentions. "I must assume his claims are true -- I know his aspirations certainly are." Harris has also watched as an increasingly assertive China has pursued a more muscular military posture in the Pacific and established a military presence on man-made islands in areas the US and its allies contend are international waters. A 1978 graduate of the US Naval Academy, Harris was designated a naval flight officer after graduation and has held several other command assignments in the Navy, including with the US Pacific Fleet and the 6th Fleet. Sen. Robert Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on Tuesday that he had not been told about plans to shift Harris to South Korea. "Having a nominee for South Korea I think is incredibly important, and I'd have to hear the admiral's views about the whole challenge of the Korean Peninsula and denuclearization," Menendez said. The New Jersey Democrat added that having an ambassador to South Korea was important, but that "Australia is important, too, as a Pacific ally." In January, the Trump administration decided not to nominate Victor Cha -- a long rumored candidate to be US ambassador to South Korea -- a reversal, sources told CNN at the time, that was driven by a disagreement over a "bloody nose" strike against Pyongyang. Cha, a widely respected academic and former Bush administration official, said in a Washington Post op-ed earlier this year that the answer to the "real and unprecedented threats" North Korea presents is not, "as some Trump administration officials have suggested, a preventive military strike." Instead, Cha laid out what he called "a forceful military option available that can address the threat without escalating into a war that would likely kill tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of Americans." South Korea is just one of dozens important ambassadorships that remain vacant.</s>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration plans to nominate Admiral Harry Harris, the head of the U.S. Pacific Command and who has already been nominated to be the next U.S. ambassador to Australia, to fill the long-vacant post of ambassador to South Korea instead, two senior U.S. officials said on Tuesday.

Another source with knowledge of the situation said President Donald Trump’s nominee to be secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, had asked Harris to take the key post in Seoul, which has been vacant since Trump took office in January last year.

“He is a good officer and was asked directly by Pompeo to fill this ambassadorship hole,” the source said.

Two senior U.S. officials confirmed the plan to nominate Harris. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump nominated Harris, who is known for hawkish views on China’s military expansion, to serve as ambassador to Australia in February, but filling the Seoul post has become even more of a priority as diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis over North Korea’s nuclear weapons have intensified.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in is due to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in a summit on Thursday and Trump has said he will hold an unprecedented meeting with Kim himself in May or June.

Pompeo told his Senate confirmation hearing this month that filling Seoul and a handful of other posts required “immediate attention.”

“I will find what I believe to be the best fit to execute America’s diplomatic mission around the world,” he said.

The White House said in February it was no longer considering Victor Cha, a former official who questioned the wisdom of a preventative military strike on North Korea being mulled by the administration earlier this year.

Harris told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee last month the United States could not be overly optimistic about the outcome of a Trump-Kim summit and must go into it with “eyes wide open.”

He said he was encouraged by the prospect of a summit, but that North Korea remained the biggest security threat in the Asia-Pacific region.

Harris said he believed Kim would like to see reunification of the Korean peninsula under his rule, and sought respect, status and security through the possession of nuclear weapons.

Trump said on Tuesday Kim Jong Un had been “very honorable” and discussions on a planned summit were going well, but tempered expectations for any quick denuclearization deal by saying “it may be we’re all wasting a lot of time.”

Andrew Shearer, a former Australian national security adviser now at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said there would be “intense disappointment” in Australia - like South Korea, a U.S. ally - about the switch in nominations.

“Harris is well known and highly respected there, and his nomination enjoyed strong bipartisan support. There’s no doubt he would have been a highly effective advocate at a time when there is growing debate in Australia about the U.S. alliance and its implications for the country’s substantial economic interests in China.

“It would be surprising if the Australia government doesn’t feel let down,” he said. “That said, no-one doubts the urgency of the North Korea threat and Canberra has little choice but to take it on the chin.”</s>(CNN) A possible parachuting of Adm. Harry Harris, the head of America's military in the Asia Pacific, as US envoy to South Korea shows President Donald Trump's administration is focusing all its effort and attention on the Korean Peninsula ahead of pivotal talks.

But the potential nomination of Harris, who was previously pegged as the next Australia ambassador, risks antagonizing China and harming relations with their long-time ally in Canberra.

"This just gives ammunition for people on the anti-American or pro-China side of the debate (in Australia) to point to Washington and say this is an unreliable ally," Euan Graham, director of the International Security Program at Sydney's Lowy Institute, said.

Harris is a highly decorated naval commander whose nomination in February was seen as a sign of strength in the relationship between the US and Australia. However, hours before his confirmation hearing as Australian ambassador, the session was postponed until early May.

The White House has not confirmed the change of assignment, but Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he was told of the decision earlier this week.

"I'm disappointed Harry's not coming, because he's a really good friend and I think Harry will be disappointed he's not coming to Canberra too, because he loves Australia," Turnbull told CNN affiliate Sky News.

The decision comes just days before a historic summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and ahead of potential talks between Kim and US President Trump slated for late May or early June.

The admiral's appointment demonstrated the importance of the Korean Peninsula to the Trump administration, analysts said, and Seoul's urgent desire for a US representative.

"(But) it's unfortunate it has to come at the expense of Australia getting one. This shouldn't be a zero sum game. The US should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time," Robert Kelly, professor at Pusan National University's Department of Political Science, said.

The apparent choice of a high-profile military figure with close ties to the US government will be welcomed in Seoul, which has been without an ambassador for more than a year.

The post has been left vacant at a tense time on the peninsula, with a series of provocative nuclear and missile tests by North Korea last year and a concerted diplomatic outreach by South Korean President Moon.

"South Korea want an ambassador who can speak for the President and interpret the President and explain things to the President," John Delury, a professor at Yonsei University's Graduate School of International Relations in Seoul, said.

The admiral said any military action by the United States in North Korea would not be quick or easy. "(But) we are ready to do the whole thing if ordered by the President," he said at the time.

Despite Harris' military pedigree and hawkish views, analysts said it was unlikely Pyongyang would be particularly concerned or shocked by Harris' appointment in Seoul.

"(North Korea) is negotiating with the President himself at this point, that's pretty remarkable, so who the ambassador is ... that's less significant now," Kelly said.

One party that will be unhappy with the admiral's appointment to Seoul is the Chinese government, which has been a longtime critic of Harris.

Beijing has regularly been driven to fury by Harris' negative views on its actions in the Asia Pacific region, including the militarization of the South China Sea.

"Some may say an overemphasis on his background as a Japanese-American general is a bit unkind .. But to understand the Americans' sudden upgraded offensive in the South China Sea, it is simply impossible to ignore Admiral Harris' blood, background, political inclination and values," the February 2016 article said.

Despite Beijing's smears of Harris, it isn't clear whether they considered him more of a threat in Canberra or in Seoul. "It's hard to imagine Beijing being excited about it. But what are they going to do?" Delury said.

High-profile Australian leaders had been thrilled with the announcement of Harris' appointment in February. "Look forward to seeing you in Canberra, Harry," Turnbull said on his official Twitter at the time.

On Tuesday, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop brushed aside the change of assignment saying "it's not unusual," and that Canberra understands the "significant challenges" facing the US on the Korean Peninsula.

Only opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong voiced any disapproval of the decision, saying it was "disappointing" the post of US ambassador to Australia had been left unfilled for 19 months.

The message from Washington to Canberra was clear in the admiral's reassignment, Graham said.

"The implicit assumption is that Australia won't put up too much of a fuss about it because they're basically on our side anyway, and I think that is a gross miscalculation of where the debate in Australia is," he said.

Australia's relationship with the United States has been under scrutiny domestically over the past decade, with some experts and leaders pushing for a more independent diplomatic policy and closer ties with an economically resurgent China.

Graham said the reassignment of Harris was a "unforced error" which made it more difficult for the Turnbull government to argue for closer US ties.

"The old days of assuming Australia can be taken for granted are no longer there and I think there will be a cost of (this decision)," he said.</s>Former PM Kevin Rudd slams the US move to withdraw its nominated ambassador to Canberra and send him to South Korea instead, saying it shows Donald Trump doesn't take the alliance with Australia seriously.

Kevin Rudd has criticised the decision to send the US' nominated ambassador to Australia to South Korea instead. (Credit: ABC)

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has slammed the United States' decision to withdraw its nominated ambassador to Australia.

The Trump administration plans to overturn its nomination of Admiral Harry Harris as the next United States ambassador to Australia, putting him forward as envoy to South Korea instead ahead of Donald Trump's planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

"(It) basically says Australia, from President Trump's perspective, is a second-class ally," Mr Rudd told 7.30.

Mr Rudd said he understood the reasoning behind the decision, given the strategic importance of the Trump-Kim meeting, but said he believed it was indicative of the view of Australia within the Trump administration.

"All Australians expect any administration in the United States to take our alliance seriously," he said.

"So to chop and change at the last minute like this and take a good candidate, Admiral Harry Harris, and take him from our grasp and send him to Seoul is, I think, a bad signal to the wider public community in Australia about the importance which this Trump administration attaches to Australia."

"There is a danger that the Trump administration begins to take Australia for granted."

Trump has 'not treated Australia particularly well'

The position of US ambassador to Australia has been vacant for more than 18 months, since John Berry left in 2016.

Publicly there has been no expression of concern from Canberra about the delay in appointing a new ambassador.

But Mr Rudd said the vacancy in such a strategically important position had ramifications for Australia.

"The virtue of ambassadors in both capitals is that they can quickly, immediately and authoritatively get through to the head of each government or administration," he said.

"If I was in Prime Minister Turnbull's office right at the moment, I think it would be full of colourful and rich language.

"The President of the United States has, so far, not treated Australia particularly well."

Harris appointment 'will not be welcomed by the Chinese'

While Mr Rudd acknowledged Admiral Harris's abilities, he said the appointment would not be welcomed by all parties with an interest in the Korean peninsula.

"I think I can say fairly safely that the appointment of Admiral Harris to Seoul will not be welcomed by the Chinese, because the Chinese have dealt with Admiral Harris in PACOM (US Pacific Command) and have regarded him as upfront and in your face," he said.

"That's not necessarily a bad thing in itself, I'm simply describing the reality."

"While we would have welcomed Admiral Harris here as ambassador to Australia, we understand that there are significant challenges for the United States on the Korean peninsula," Ms Bishop said.</s>SYDNEY (AFP) - Veteran Asia-hand Admiral Harry Harris is to be the new US ambassador to South Korea, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed, filling a post that has been vacant for 15 months.

Harris, the commander of the US Pacific Command, who is known for his hawkish positions on China, had been due to become Washington's man in Canberra, until a late switch.

The move comes with the Korean peninsula in sharp diplomatic focus, with the leaders of North and South due to hold a summit on Friday, and US President Donald Trump expected to meet Kim Jong Un in the next few months.

Turnbull said he had been informed of the change of plans early this week, just as Harris was set to begin confirmation hearings in Washington.

"I'm disappointed that Harry's not coming because he is a really good friend and I think Harry will be disappointed that he is not coming to Canberra too because he loves Australia," Turnbull said late Wednesday during a visit to France.

But Harris "is a guy of enormous experience and ability and given the situation on the Korean peninsula, given the tensions there, I can well understand why the president has decided that the admiral's expertise and experience is going to be put to better use in Korea than in Australia."

The ambassador's job in Canberra has been vacant for nearly a year-and-a-half but Turnbull was quick to play down any notion that the last-minute switch sending Harris to Seoul represented a snub to one of Washington's closest allies.

"You know the relationship between Australia and the United States... is so deep, it's so intense it operates at so many levels," he said.

The US charge d'affaires, Jim Carouso, said he shared Turnbull's disappointment that Harris would not be taking charge of the embassy, but acknowledged his skills were needed in Seoul as Trump prepares for an unprecedented meeting with North Korea's Kim.

"I would have been honoured to work with him," Carouso said of Harris on Sky News Thursday.

"We need our best person immediately available to go (to South Korea) and handle what's going to be a difficult negotiation," he said.</s>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration plans to nominate Admiral Harry Harris, the head of the U.S. Pacific Command already nominated to be the next U.S. ambassador to Australia, to fill the long-vacant post of ambassador to South Korea instead, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump’s nominee to be secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, had asked Harris to take the key post in Seoul, which has been vacant since Trump took office in January last year, a source with knowledge of the situation said.

Three U.S. officials confirmed the plan to nominate Harris, who was in Washington on Tuesday for a Senate committee hearing on his Australia nomination. That hearing was postponed indefinitely.

“The national security situation on the Korean Peninsula is of the highest priority,” one of the officials said when asked to confirm the switch in nominations. “Our relationship with Australia is and remains steadfast.”

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump nominated Harris, who is known for hawkish views on China’s military expansion, to serve as ambassador to Australia in February, but filling the Seoul post has become even more of a priority as diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis over North Korea’s nuclear weapons have intensified.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in is due to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday and Trump has said he will hold an unprecedented summit with Kim himself in May or June.

Pompeo told his Senate confirmation hearing this month that filling Seoul and a handful of other diplomatic posts required “immediate attention.”

“I will find what I believe to be the best fit to execute America’s diplomatic mission around the world,” he said.

The White House said in February it was no longer considering Victor Cha, a former official who questioned the wisdom of a preventative military strike on North Korea being mulled by the administration earlier this year.

Harris told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee last month Washington could not be overly optimistic about the outcome of a Trump-Kim summit and must go into it with “eyes wide open.”

He said he was encouraged by the prospect of a summit, but North Korea remained the biggest Asia-Pacific security threat.

Harris said he believed Kim would like to see reunification of the Korean peninsula under his rule, and sought respect, status and security through the possession of nuclear weapons.

Trump said on Tuesday Kim had been “very honorable” and discussions on a planned summit were going well, but tempered expectations for any quick denuclearization deal by saying “it may be we’re all wasting a lot of time.”

Andrew Shearer, a former Australian national security adviser now at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said there would be “intense disappointment” in Australia - like South Korea, a U.S. ally - about the switch in nominations.

“Harris is well known and highly respected there, and his nomination enjoyed strong bipartisan support. There’s no doubt he would have been a highly effective advocate at a time when there is growing debate in Australia about the U.S. alliance and its implications for the country’s substantial economic interests in China.

“It would be surprising if the Australia government doesn’t feel let down,” he said. “That said, no-one doubts the urgency of the North Korea threat and Canberra has little choice but to take it on the chin.”

Australia’s foreign minister, Julie Bishop, said Australia was not offended by the sudden withdrawal of Harris.

“While we would have welcomed Admiral Harris as ambassador here in Australia, we understand there are significant challenges for the United States on the Korean peninsula,” Bishop told reporters after a service to commemorate ANZAC Day in Sydney.

“We look forward to a new ambassador being nominated as soon as possible.”

Australia has been without a U.S. ambassador for 18 months.
It is announced that Admiral Harry B. Harris may be nominated as the new U.S. Ambassador to South Korea.