S. Korea’s Lee to appoint Japan diplomat as FM

Lee, a conservative former construction firm boss who takes office on Feb. 25, was expected name the new cabinet on Friday, but the announcement may get delayed over negotiations with the current ruling party on shutting down some ministries.

The expected appointment of Yu signals a more pragmatic approach to ties with key allies Japan and the United States compared with the often tense relationships during President Roh Moo-hyun’s term, analysts said.

Yu, 61, has been credited for his role in concluding tense negotiations with Japan in 2006 as vice minister in a territorial dispute over tiny islands between the two countries claimed by both, which threatened to escalate into a military standoff.

Yu is a specialist on the United States, having served as the foreign ministry’s North America desk chief and in Washington as South Korea’s number-two diplomat in the 1990s.

He has broad support inside the ministry and is known as a skilled manager and a respected leader, ministry officials said.

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