Bosworth is a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, the Philippines and Tunisia and has taken leave from an academic post to pursue the new assignment.

• 博斯沃思这次访问亚洲的使命从中国开始。他还将访问韩国，讨论如何重新展开已停滞的六方会谈。他在首尔除了会见韩国外交官以外也将和俄罗斯官员会面。