Trump Asia expert to become deputy national security adviser

[September 23, 2019]    (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's national security adviser said on Sunday that White House Asia policy adviser Matt Pottinger would become his top deputy.

President Donald Trump listens to his newly announced White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien speak to reporters after he named O'Brien as his fourth national security adviser at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, U.S., September 18, 2019. REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File Photo

Robert O’Brien made the announcement on Air Force One as Trump flew from Ohio to New York, where the president will spend most of the week attending events related to the United Nations General Assembly.

Last Wednesday, Trump named O'Brien, a veteran foreign policy hand who had served as U.S. hostage negotiator, to replace John Bolton as national security adviser.

Trump and the hawkish Bolton had differences over foreign policy challenges such as Iran, Afghanistan and North Korea.

Pottinger is a former journalist and ex-U.S. Marine who has helped forge China and North Korea policy since Trump took office in January 2017.

"He's a team player," O'Brien said.

Pottinger played a key role in arranging Trump's summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a diplomatic engagement that has made little progress toward persuading Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Kim Coghill and Peter Cooney)

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