Heading to Japan Thursday to take up the post of Washington's new ambassador to Tokyo, Caroline Kennedy has an offbeat plan -- seeking a chance to meet South Korean President Park Geun-hye some day, according to a diplomatic source.

The daughter of slain President John F. Kennedy apparently feels sympathetic to Park, whose father was also assassinated while serving as South Korea's president, the source said.

"Amb. Kennedy was recently told about President Park's story in detail. She expressed hope for an opportunity to meet each other," the source told Yonhap News Agency.

In fact, the Obama administration has high expectations for the role of Kennedy not only in upgrading Washington-Tokyo ties but also in handling major regional challenges, although she is a novice in diplomacy.

Secretary of State John Kerry noted she is becoming the top U.S. envoy in Japan "at a critical time."

He cited Washington's strategy of rebalancing toward Asia, slow-going efforts to deal with North Korea, and strained ties between Seoul and Tokyo as well as territorial disputes in the region.

"These are huge, huge issues, and I know from my own experience with Caroline her ability to step up and undertake this great challenge," the secretary said, speaking at a reception in Kennedy's honor at the Japanese ambassador's residence in Washington earlier this week.

In reply, Kennedy said she and her family are looking forward to "making new friends."

Her new friends may include the South Korean president.

Meanwhile, the U.S. will mark the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination next week.

Caroline Kennedy is president of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. Know for editing many best-selling books, she also helped Obama's presidential campaign. (Yonhap News)