Undersecretary of State Nominee Stresses Ties with Japan, S. Korea

   Washington, April 9 (Jiji Press)--Allison Hooker, U.S. President Donald Trump's pick for undersecretary of state for political affairs, said Wednesday that she would help deepen cooperation between the United States, Japan and South Korea to address regional issues.
   "The trilateral relationship between the United States, Japan and Korea is... critically important not only to the safe, safety and security of the Northeast Asian region, but also to the United States and to our allies and the rest of the Indo Pacific," Hooker said during a Senate confirmation hearing on her nomination.
   "If confirmed, I look forward to continuing to advance this relationship," she said.
   With South Korea expected to hold a snap presidential election in June, Hooker said she believes that the United States "will be able to advance the relationship with South Korea and Japan...more effectively once that takes place."
   During the first Trump administration, Hooker served as senior director for the Korean Peninsula and senior director for Asia.

(2025/04/10-12:23)