President Trump on Friday nominated the head of U.S. Pacific Command, Adm. Harry Harris Jr., as his ambassador to South Korea.
The White House touted Harris's years of experience in the Navy and knowledge of the Indo-Pacific region in announcing his nomination on Friday.
Harris has served in the military for four decades, with seven command assignments including for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the U.S. Sixth Fleet and VP-46.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was rumored last month to be mulling switching Harris, who was initially nominated as Trump's pick to Australia, to instead be his envoy to Seoul.
His nomination comes as the Trump administration continues to prepare for a possible summit between Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un next month in Singapore as part of efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.