According to MiddleAsianNews, next week the main American diplomat for East Asia will embark on a trip to Mongolia, South Korea, and Japan to strengthen partnerships with these countries on important issues concerning the Indo-Pacific region, the State Department reports.
From March 13 to 17, Michael DeSombre, who serves as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, plans to visit Tokyo, Seoul, and Ulaanbaatar, according to information provided by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs on the X platform.
Additionally, the upcoming trip of U.S. President Donald Trump to Northeast Asia coincides with his visit to China, where he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March or early April. This circumstance creates conditions for a possible resumption of dialogue between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the trip to Asia.
At a recent congress of the ruling political party, Kim Jong Un noted that Pyongyang "has no grounds for conflict with the U.S." if Washington changes its hostile policy. He added that the future of U.S.-North Korean relations "fully depends on the position of the United States," according to official North Korean sources.
Michael George DeSombre, born in 1968, serves as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Previously, he was the U.S. Ambassador to Thailand. Before and during his appointments to government positions, he was a partner at the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell and also headed the Save the Children organization in Hong Kong.
On March 10, 2025, Donald Trump nominated DeSombre for the position of Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and on October 7, 2025, the Senate confirmed his appointment with a vote of 51 to 47. The oath of office took place on October 10, 2025.
DeSombre, born in Chicago, Illinois, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Quantitative Economics and a Master of Arts degree in East Asian Studies from Stanford University. In 1995, he graduated with honors from Harvard Law School.
Before taking up his post in Bangkok in 2020, DeSombre lived in Hong Kong for two decades. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, as well as proficient in Korean and Japanese. Additionally, he is a fan of the U.S. rugby team and actively participates in community service and charity work. He has four children and is married.
