Trump Nominates Korean-American John No as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs

Experience Working for the U.S. House Select Committee on China

John No, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia, U.S. Department of Defense

A Korean-American has been appointed as Assistant Secretary of Defense responsible for security policy and strategy in the Indo-Pacific region, including North Korea issues, in the second administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to the U.S. Congress on June 3 (local time), President Trump notified the Senate the previous day that he is nominating John No, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia, as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.

The Assistant Secretary for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs is responsible for security policy and strategy in the Indo-Pacific region. The countries under this portfolio include China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, North Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and India. This is a senior government position equivalent to vice minister or assistant secretary in South Korea. The U.S. President nominates the candidate, and Senate confirmation is required.

Deputy Assistant Secretary No has been serving as acting assistant secretary since the previous assistant secretary, Ely Ratner of the Biden administration, stepped down following the change of administration.

Deputy Assistant Secretary No, a Korean-American and a graduate of Stanford Law School, previously worked for the House Select Committee on China before joining the Department of Defense. Before that, he worked as a lawyer and federal prosecutor, and also served as a U.S. Army officer, leading an infantry platoon in Afghanistan.

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