From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 6):  New American envoy expresses confidence on stability of US-PHL ties

The new US ambassador to the Philippines on Tuesday expressed confidence that the mutual respect, close economic ties and shared interests and values between the Philippines and the United States would ensure the stability of US-Philippine partnership.

Sung Kim, who presented his credentials to President Rodrigo Duterte earlier Tuesday, briefly met with Malacañang reporters and said that that he had a lengthy and substantive discussion with the President.

The new envoy arrived in Manila on December 3 and replaced Philip Goldberg as US Ambassador to the Philippines.

“It is an incredible honor for me to be in the Philippines to have this opportunity to contribute to one of America’s most enduring partnerships. Over the weeks, months and years ahead, I look forward to working closely with the Philippines’ government and Filipino people to expand our relationship and to engage in many areas of mutual interest,” Kim said.

The ambassador said that at the heart of US-Philippine partnership is the deep bond between the peoples of the two countries.

“There is indeed tremendous ‘kalooban’, the extraordinary spirit, warmth and strength in our relationship," he said.

Besides the close friendship and strong alliance between the Philippines and the US, Kim said that there also exists strong economic ties that are long-standing and extensive.

“This important relationship is, of course, based on mutual respect. I am confident that our mutual respect combined with the close ties and shared history and values will ensure stability in our relationship over the long term and the years and decades to come,” Kim said.

As the new American envoy, Kim said that he is “eager to get to know the Filipino people, to travel from the rolling hills of Batanes, to the beaches of Tawi-Tawi and to experience Philippines’ rich culture.”

Sung Kim is the first US ambassador to the Philippines with Asian heritage.

He was born in Seoul, South Korea in 1960 and moved to the United States in 1973.
He became a US citizen in 1980.

Kim earned a doctorate in law from Loyola University Law School in Los Angeles and a Masters of Law from the London School of Economics.

Prior to his appointment to the Philippines, Kim was the US Special Representative for North Korea Policy from November 6, 2014 to September 2016.

He was also the US ambassador to South Korea from November, 2011 to October, 2014.

Prior postings also included a stint as the US Special Envoy for the Six-Party Talks from mid-2008 to October, 2011 among others.

 http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=946195