Tokyo: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Tuesday underscored South Korea's commitment to fostering stronger relationships with "friendly nations," as he engaged in discussions with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. This initiative aligns with the Lee Jae Myung government's approach to maintaining and enhancing the improving bilateral relations between South Korea and Japan.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho's visit to Japan, preceding a trip to the United States, marks a notable diplomatic move, suggesting the Lee administration's focus on bilateral and trilateral relations with Japan and the U.S. "The Lee Jae Myung government seeks to strengthen ties with friendly nations based on its pragmatic foreign policy," remarked Cho, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and communication between friendly nations to transform crises into opportunities.
Cho conveyed President Lee's "warm regards" to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, expressing hopes for successful talks between the foreign ministers. He highlighted the concept of "shuttle diplomacy," referring to regular exchanges between leaders as a core policy for a forward-looking relationship with Japan.
This meeting represented the inaugural one-on-one discussion between the two diplomats, with Cho having assumed office only last week. The South Korean foreign ministry announced Cho's itinerary, noting his Tokyo visit precedes talks in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a departure from the traditional practice of first visiting the U.S.
Cho expressed optimism that this shift would enhance not only bilateral ties with Japan but also trilateral cooperation with the U.S. He anticipated addressing historical issues stemming from Japan's colonial rule over Korea, advocating for a long-term, mutually beneficial approach to discussions for a future-oriented relationship.
The Tokyo talks were expected to be followed by a working dinner hosted by the Japanese, paving the way for deeper engagement. In Washington, Cho plans to discuss alliances and shared issues with Rubio, focusing on the "modernization of alliance" concept, reflecting U.S. expectations for allies to contribute more to defense and address China's growing assertiveness.
Additionally, Cho's diplomatic tour coincides with critical tariff negotiations between South Korea and the U.S., with a looming deadline for a trade deal. Failure to reach an agreement could result in a 25 percent U.S. reciprocal tariff on South Korean goods. "I plan to provide as much support as possible (for the tariff negotiations)," stated Cho, highlighting the significance of these discussions.