Washington May 19 (IANS) US President Donald Trump picked Admiral Harry Harris as the next US ambassador to the South Korea the White House said on Friday.

Harris 61 currently serves as the commander of US Pacific Command. He was previously nominated as the US ambassador to Australia Xinhua news agency reported.

The post of the US ambassador to South Korea has remained unfilled since Trump took office in 2017.
It has been reported that the White House withdrew its nomination of Victor Cha a veteran Korea expert in January for the post because of Cha s opposition to military options against North Korea.

Harris still needs the Senate confirmation to assume the post.

--IANS pgh/