Biden appoints special envoy for North Korea

His background: A South Korea native, Kim previously served as U.S. special representative for North Korea policy. At different points in his career, he was ambassador to South Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines.

• He was also the U.S. special envoy for the Six-Party Talks, a series of meetings with other countries aimed at addressing security concerns as a result of North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

The big picture: At a press conference Friday with Biden, Moon called denuclearization the most critical issue for the U.S. and South Korea.

• He welcomed Kim's appointment, calling it the "firm commitment of the U.S. for exploring diplomacy and its readiness for dialogue with North Korea.”

Go deeper: Biden's Korean War diplomacy