Seoul: Acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim has left his post in Seoul and returned to the United States, the foreign ministry announced Wednesday. This development comes amid speculation that Kim may be assigned a new role in the Trump administration concerning Korea-related issues.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim's departure occurred approximately two months after he assumed the position as charge d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul in October of the previous year. He took over from Joseph Yun, who was also serving in an acting capacity after the departure of former U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Philip Goldberg. Goldberg left the post following the onset of the second Trump administration.

Kim recently communicated to Seoul officials that he has returned to the United States, as confirmed by the foreign ministry. In the interim, Jim Heller, the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, is anticipated to fulfill the role of charge d'affaires until a new ambassador is appointed.

There is speculation that Kim could be appointed to a new position focusing on Korea-related issues. This might involve implementing summit agreements between the allies on security and other matters or addressing North Korea-related challenges. Diplomatic sources suggest that Kim has likely been named a senior adviser to Allison Hooker, the U.S. under secretary of state for political affairs. Both Hooker and Kim were actively engaged in nuclear negotiations with North Korea during Trump's first term, a period marked by extensive denuclearization discussions.

Before his assignment in Seoul, Kim served as the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Taiwan at the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. His departure once again leaves the ambassadorial position in Seoul vacant. It took more than a year for Goldberg to assume the role after the Biden administration began, and in Trump's first term, it took about 18 months for Ambassador Harry Harris to be appointed.