WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- US President George W. Bush has appointed Jay Lefkowitz, former senior domestic policy aide, as special envoy to promote human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the White House said Friday.

    "His appointment will greatly enhance our efforts to encourage North Korea to accept and abide by internationally accepted human rights standards and norms," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said in a statement.

    The White House made the announcement ahead of the resumption of the fourth round six-party talks on the DPRK's nuclear weapons programs. The negotiations are due to resume during the week of Aug. 29.

    Lefkowitz has served as deputy assistant to Bush for domestic policy. He also served as a member of the US delegation to the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva and the US delegation to the International Conference on Anti-Semitism sponsored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Enditem