Munich: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday expressed confidence in South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok and emphasized the strength of the U.S.-South Korea alliance during bilateral talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul at the Munich Security Conference in Germany. This meeting marked their first in-person interaction since Rubio assumed office last month.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Rubio underscored America's commitment to the "complete denuclearization" of North Korea, while indicating the Trump administration's openness to dialogue. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce relayed that Rubio reiterated his confidence in the Republic of Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok, highlighting the robustness of the U.S.-ROK alliance.
This statement by Rubio marks the first instance of a senior Trump administration official publicly expressing support for South Korea's acting president. Notably, President Donald Trump has not yet addressed Choi publicly, nor have the two leaders engaged in a phone conversation.
Choi assumed leadership after the impeachment of acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on December 27, following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over a martial law declaration on December 3, which plunged South Korea into political uncertainty.
In Munich, Rubio also emphasized his commitment to maintaining enduring defense and economic ties with South Korea, reflecting the importance and continuity of their relationship. The talks addressed strategies to deter North Korean aggression and enhance economic cooperation, particularly in shipbuilding, semiconductors, and energy sectors, with a focus on increasing American liquefied natural gas exports.
Bruce noted that the discussions also touched on advancing economic cooperation in line with President Trump's agenda, including closer alignment on critical and emerging technologies and joint business initiatives. Both diplomats expressed concerns over China's assertive actions in the South China Sea.
Earlier, Seoul's foreign ministry disclosed that Cho and Rubio agreed to collaborate closely on North Korea policy under the Trump administration during their 40-minute discussion. They reaffirmed their commitment to North Korea's complete denuclearization and agreed to continue monitoring military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
The talks are crucial as South Korea seeks to navigate its relationship with the new Trump administration, particularly concerning the bilateral alliance, North Korean threats, and Trump's tariff plans. Cho called for mutually beneficial solutions to tariff issues, emphasizing South Korea's commitment to resolving them through close consultations with the U.S.
Rubio assured that he would convey Seoul's position to Washington, suggesting further discussions between the two governments. Trump's proposed tariffs on steel, aluminum, cars, and chips necessitate swift coordination with Washington to prevent South Korea from becoming a target of these policies.
Rubio also sought Seoul's active cooperation in sectors such as shipbuilding and energy, to which Cho responded positively, highlighting South Korea's investments in the U.S. and seeking American support for a favorable business environment.
The meeting occurred as Seoul continued its diplomatic engagement following the martial law attempt by Yoon in December. Rubio assured Cho of the U.S.'s intention to maintain stable relations with South Korea, irrespective of domestic political situations in both countries.
The issue of North Korea's denuclearization has gained attention following Trump's administration's reference to Pyongyang as a "nuclear power," sparking debate in Seoul about the U.S.'s stance on North Korea's nuclear capabilities. Trump later reaffirmed the U.S.'s commitment to North Korea's denuclearization at a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
After the bilateral talks, Cho and Rubio joined Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya for a trilateral meeting, where they reiterated their commitment to North Korea's denuclearization and condemned human rights violations in the country. They also issued a strong warning against North Korean provocations and reiterated the U.S.'s "ironclad" security commitments to South Korea and Japan.
Meanwhile, the G7 countries' top diplomats called on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons in a "complete, verifiable, and irreversible" manner during their meeting at the Munich conference.