The U.S. Defense Department says President Barack Obama intends to nominate Lieutenant General Curtis "Mike'' Scaparrotti to serve as the new commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a news conference that President Obama decided Friday to promote Scaparrotti to a four-star general and take up the post in South Korea.

Scaparrotti served as deputy commander in Afghanistan through last June and currently serves as the director of the Joint Staff in the Pentagon.

Hagel noted President Park Geun-hye was consulted with on May seventh concerning the replacement.

Army General James Thurman who assumed the post of USFK commander in July 2011 is retiring soon.