Washington: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun departed for Washington on Thursday for a series of talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio, focusing on critical subjects such as bilateral economic and security arrangements, North Korea, and the Middle East conflict.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho's three-day visit will include a meeting with Rubio on Friday, as confirmed by the ministry. "We will have in-depth discussions on various pending issues between the two nations, as well as consultations on issues concerning the Korean Peninsula, regional affairs, and the international situation," Cho stated before leaving from Incheon International Airport.
The talks are set against the backdrop of several unresolved issues between Seoul and Washington, notably South Korea's role in securing the Strait of Hormuz and its investment plans in the U.S. The Trump administration has been urging South Korea to assist in ensuring freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway, prompting Seoul to carefully consider deploying military assets, despite domestic opposition and warnings from Iran.
"No decision has been made yet, and we are reviewing all relevant factors. In doing so, we will prioritize international cooperation while giving foremost consideration to the safety of our people and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz," Cho emphasized.
Additionally, the two nations are still working out the details of South Korea's investment commitments under a joint fact sheet adopted after last year's summit between President Lee Jae Myung and Trump. South Korea had committed to investing $350 billion in the United States, including $150 billion earmarked for shipbuilding cooperation, in exchange for reduced U.S. tariff rates, along with other security arrangements.
An announcement regarding South Korea's first investment project under this agreement was anticipated this week; however, a planned briefing to the National Assembly was postponed for undisclosed reasons. Cho noted, "The delay is aimed at clarifying domestic procedural issues, rather than reflecting differences between the two nations."
Potential investment projects include a large-scale gas-fired power plant in Texas and nuclear power plants. The countries are also discussing updates to the Korea-U.S. nuclear energy agreement, known as the 123 Agreement, to permit South Korea to enrich uranium and reprocess spent fuel. Progress on these security arrangements has been slow, with a second round of consultations yet to be scheduled.
South Korea is also keen on advancing the development of nuclear-powered submarines under the agreement. During a parliamentary committee session, First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo highlighted that investment issues are "closely linked to security matters," and that Seoul is actively making necessary requests to the U.S. while adopting a comprehensive approach to commercial cooperation negotiations.
North Korea remains a significant topic on the agenda, with Trump showing interest in reestablishing contact with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Seoul has underscored the need for close coordination with Washington to resume dialogue with Pyongyang and address nuclear concerns.