South Korean President Moon Jae-in has decided to dispatch a former prime minister under the Roh Moo-hyun government to China as a special envoy on the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Senior presidential press secretary Yoon Young-chan told a press conference on Monday that former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan was picked as the special envoy to China.
Lee was sent to China as a special envoy in February 2003 when late President Roh Moo-hyun, for whom Moon served as chief of staff, was inaugurated, according to the presidential Blue House.
The Blue House said in a press release that President Moon selected Lee who can best understand his diplomatic vision and foreign policy.
It noted that Lee has a ripe experience on matters on China and maintains close relations with Chinese figures.
A senior presidential official, who declined to be identified, told Xinhua that the special envoy will discuss a broad range of issues, including the THAAD and the DPRK.
As the two issues are inter-connected, the official said, they would be handled together.
