Susan Thornton’s retirement comes as US President Donald Trump’s administration prepares for negotiations to ensure Pyongyang abandons its nuclear weapons. Photo: EPA
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Top US diplomat for Asia Susan Thornton to ‘retire’ amid North Korea and China negotiations
Questions have long been raised about whether Susan Thornton would be replaced under Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
The senior US diplomat for Asia, Susan Thornton, will retire at the end of July, the State Department said, in the midst of critical negotiations with North Korea and China. File photo: Xinhua
The senior US diplomat for Asia, Susan Thornton, will retire at the end of July, the State Department said, in the midst of critical negotiations with North Korea and China.
Questions have long been raised about whether Thornton, 54, who was picked for the post by former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, would be replaced under his successor, Mike Pompeo.
Her appointment had been opposed by former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon.
“Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Susan Thornton has announced her intention to retire from the Foreign Service at the end of July,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.
“We are grateful for her service of over two and a half decades to the Department of State, including numerous challenging assignments around the world,” Nauert added.
Nauert did not say when Pompeo planned to announce a replacement, but said: “He is moving forward with efforts to nominate candidates for leadership roles across the department, including for this key position.”
Thornton’s retirement comes as US President Donald Trump’s administration prepares for negotiations to ensure Pyongyang abandons its nuclear weapons, following a summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore.
Pompeo, who is charged by Trump with leading follow-on negotiations, said the United States hoped to achieve “major disarmament” by North Korea within the next 2-1/2 years.
Thornton’s departure also comes amid trade tensions between Washington and Beijing at a time when Trump is pressing China for cooperation on North Korea.
Thornton could not be immediately reached for comment on Saturday.
Separately, the State Department said the US ambassador to Estonia, Jim Melville, had decided to step down from the foreign service after 33 years.
Media reports said Melville, who has been ambassador to Estonia since 2015, was due to retire but told friends in a private Facebook posting that he was resigning amid comments by Trump about US allies in Europe.
Tensions between the United States and Europe have escalated since Trump announced in May he was pulling out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and, separately, said he would impose tariffs on European steel and aluminium exports.