Trump has picked a nominee for ambassador to South Korea: report

President Trump has selected a nominee for ambassador to South Korea and is waiting on his approval from Seoul, Yonhap News Agency reported Sunday.

Victor Cha, a North Korea expert and former National Security Council official under former President George W. Bush, has already undergone extensive vetting and is now in the final stages of approval, the agency reported.

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Sources told the news outlet that they expect the South Korean government to approve Cha quickly, as the post has been empty since Trump took office in January. 

Cha’s reported nomination comes amid growing concerns over North Korea, which in November launched its first intercontinental ballistic missile in two months. 

Following the most recent launch, Trump told reporters that “it’s a situation we will handle,” without elaborating on what exactly that meant.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the time condemned the launch but said diplomatic options “remain viable and open, for now.”

Yonhap’s report came the same day a United Nations official emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution to the conflict after returning from a visit to North Korea.