The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Barack Obama's choice for a new ambassador to South Korea.

Lawmakers unanimously approved career diplomat Sung Kim Thursday. The first Korean-American to hold the post, he will replace Ambassador Kathleen Stephens.

Kim's June nomination was supposed to be confirmed before Congress adjourned for the summer in August. He had a confirmation hearing July 21 and was approved a week later by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

But he was not confirmed before the summer recess, sparking rumors that some senators blocked the action over political disagreements with President Obama.

Kim's confirmation coincides with the South Korean president's visit to the United States.