Seoul: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to expedite the release of a delayed joint summit document focusing on trade and security, as reported by Seoul's foreign ministry. The appeal was made during a brief encounter on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' meeting in Canada. The document, which remains unpublished, summarizes the outcomes of the recent Oct. 29 summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the joint fact sheet is intended to detail agreements between the two nations, including Seoul's efforts to secure fuel supplies for nuclear-powered submarines and a substantial US$350 billion investment pledge by South Korea. This pledge is made in exchange for the U.S. reducing tariffs on South Korean goods from 25 percent to 15 percent. Delays in the document's release are reportedly due to unresolved coordination among U.S. government agencies, particularly concerning security issues related to nuclear-powered submarines.
The possibility of a meeting between the two leaders has garnered attention, as it could facilitate discussions on releasing the joint fact sheet. In a message to reporters, the foreign ministry conveyed that Cho requested Rubio make "special efforts to facilitate a swift release of the joint fact sheet so that the agreed-upon measures can materialize." Rubio reportedly assured that he would actively work with relevant U.S. agencies to ensure a prompt release.
Both Cho and Rubio were present at the two-day G7 meeting in the Niagara Region, Ontario, where South Korea participated as a guest nation alongside Brazil, India, and others. During the gathering, Cho engaged in bilateral talks with his counterparts from Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the European Union (EU), and Germany, discussing bilateral relations, economic cooperation, and regional and global geopolitical situations.
In meetings with German and EU representatives, Cho emphasized Seoul's peace initiative to reduce inter-Korean tensions and sought support for the denuclearization efforts on the Korean Peninsula. Furthermore, Cho took part in expanded G7 ministerial sessions focusing on maritime and energy security and critical minerals. He stressed the importance of maintaining maritime order based on international laws and advocated for enhanced cooperation to protect key maritime infrastructure, such as undersea cables.