Seoul: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun briefly met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' meeting in Canada, as announced by the foreign ministry on Thursday. This meeting occurred against the backdrop of a significant delay in the release of a joint document concerning trade and security.
According to Yonhap News Agency, both Cho and Rubio participated in the two-day gathering in Ontario's Niagara Region, with South Korea attending as a guest nation alongside Brazil, India, and others. The potential meeting between Cho and Rubio was highly anticipated as it was expected to address the delayed joint fact sheet, which aims to detail the outcomes of the recent leaders' summit. Key points include South Korea's bid to secure fuel supplies for nuclear-powered submarines and a significant US$350 billion investment pledge in exchange for reduced tariffs on South Korean goods.
Details of the discussion between Cho and Rubio remain undisclosed, but it is believed that the joint fact sheet was a primary topic. The foreign ministry stated that Cho and Rubio "exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest."
Officials in Seoul indicated that the delay might be attributed to unresolved coordination among U.S. government agencies, particularly concerning security matters, hinting at the nuclear-powered submarine issue as a potential sticking point.
During the G7 meeting, Cho engaged in separate bilateral discussions with counterparts from Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the European Union (EU), and Germany. These talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations, enhancing economic and other cooperation, and addressing regional and global geopolitical issues, as per the foreign ministry's release.
In discussions with German and EU officials, Cho emphasized Seoul's peace initiative to ease inter-Korean tensions and sought support for efforts toward denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.
Additionally, Cho participated in two expanded G7 ministerial sessions focused on maritime and energy security and critical minerals. He underscored the importance of upholding the maritime order according to international laws and advocated for increased cooperation in implementing laws to safeguard essential maritime infrastructure, such as undersea cables.