A career diplomat well versed in relations with the United States will be named as President Park Geun-hye's foreign affairs secretary, presidential sources said Monday.

The selection of Kim Hyoung-zhin, who served as director general at the foreign ministry's North American affairs bureau in 2010, is seen as a move by Park to reaffirm her commitment to strengthening the alliance with Washington, they said.

Kim, 52, will work under senior foreign affairs and security secretary Ju Chul-ki.

The president has also decided to name another career diplomat, Kim Hong-kyun, as secretary for international cooperation, a post under the national security office that has been newly established at the presidential office, the sources said.

Kim, also 52, has much experience in dealing with North Korea and other security issues at the foreign ministry, they said. (Yonhap News)