US Endorses South Korean Candidate Kim Jong-Yang To Lead Interpol

The United States on Tuesday threw its weight behind the South Korean candidate to lead Interpol, Kim Jong-Yang, as controversy rages over a Russian candidate to lead the organization.

A vote is set to take place today in Dubai on the final day of Interpol’s annual conference to replace former president Meng Hongwei, who is now detained in China on bribery charges. Kim is currently the acting president.

“We strongly endorse Kim Jong-Yang, who is serving as its acting president,” Pompeo told reporters.

“We encourage all nations and organizations that are part of Interpol and that respect the rule of law to choose a leader with integrity. We believe Mr Kim will be just that.”

Meng vanished in his native China in September. Beijing later said he resigned his post at Interpol after being charged with accepting bribes.

Critics have urged Interpol to reject Russian candidate Alexander Prokopchuk, a Russian interior ministry official and current Interpol vice president, over fears Moscow could abuse the role to target political opponents.

Besides Prokopchuk, Kim is the only candidate in the running.

In an open letter this week, a bipartisan group of US senators said choosing Prokopchuk would be like “putting a fox in charge of a henhouse.”

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the US senators’ letter as a “vivid example” of an attempt to interfere in the vote.

((AFP)