The United States special representative for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the top US State Department official who represents the United States' interests with respect to North Korea in a diplomatic context. North Korea and the United States have no formal diplomatic relations. (See North Korea–United States relations.) Sweden acts as the protecting power of United States interests in North Korea for consular matters.
History Jay Lefkowitz was President George W. Bush's special envoy for human rights in North Korea.
Robert R. King served as special envoy on North Korean human rights issues from November 2009 to January 2017.
Stephen W. Bosworth served as special envoy to North Korea from 2009 to 2011, under President Obama. He had previously been an ambassador to several countries, including to South Korea from 1997 to 2001.
Glyn Davies served as the special representative for North Korea policy from January 2012 to November 2014.
Sung Kim served as the special representative for North Korea policy from November 2014 to September 2016 and as special envoy for the six-party talks from 2008 to 2011.
Joseph Y. Yun served as the special representative for North Korea policy from October 17, 2016, to March 2, 2018.
Stephen Biegun was appointed by Secretary Mike Pompeo and served from 2018 to 2021.
President Joe Biden announced on May 21, 2021 that Sung Kim would serve as the U.S. special envoy for North Korea.
List of officeholders Special representatives +No. Special representativesTerm startTerm endUS presidentNK supreme leader 1Stephen W. BosworthFebruary 20, 2009October 26, 2011 Barack Obama Kim Jong-il 2Glyn T. DaviesOctober 26, 2011November 6, 2014Kim Jong-un 3Sung KimNovember 6, 2014November 3, 2016 4 Joseph Y. Yun October 17, 2016 March 2, 2018 Donald Trump 5Stephen BiegunAugust 23, 2018 January 20, 2021 6 Sung Kim May 21, 2021 November 21, 2023 Joe Biden 7 Jung H. Pak November 21, 2023 July 5, 2024
Special envoys on North Korean human rights issues +No. Special envoys Term startTerm endUS presidentNK supreme leader1 Jay Lefkowitz August 19, 2005 January 2009 George W. Bush Kim Jong-il2 Robert R. King November 24, 2009 January 12, 2017 Barack Obama Kim Jong-ilKim Jong-un3 Julie Turner October 13, 2023 January 23, 2025 Joe Biden Kim Jong-un
Special envoys for the six-party talks +Special envoys Term startTerm endUS presidentNK supreme leaderJack PritchardApril 2001September 2003George W. BushKim Jong-ilJames A. KellySeptember 2003January 2005George W. BushKim Jong-ilChristopher R. Hill February 14, 2005 2008George W. BushBarack ObamaKim Jong-ilSung Kim July 31, 2008 October 13, 2011Barack Obama Kim Jong-ilClifford HartOctober 31, 2011July 23, 2013Barack Obama Kim Jong-ilKim Jong-unSydney SeilerSeptember 2, 20142015Barack Obama Kim Jong-un
See also Division of Korea Human rights in North Korea Korean Americans in New York City Korean War North Korea–United States relations Foreign relations of North Korea List of ambassadors of the United States to South Korea
References
External links United States Department of State: North Korea United States Department of State Bilateral Relations Factsheet: North Korea