Paris:South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in France to discuss North Korea and other bilateral matters. The meeting took place on the sidelines of a Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' meeting.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho and Rubio exchanged views on overall bilateral relations, high-level exchanges, and North Korea-related issues. The details of their discussion were not disclosed, but the meeting highlights ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two countries.

The discussions come at a crucial time as Seoul aims to maintain momentum on key bilateral and regional issues following the U.S. midterm elections. The elections resulted in the Democrats gaining control of both chambers of Congress, impacting the political landscape significantly.

Rubio confirmed the meeting via a post on X, expressing the importance of the bilateral relationship between South Korea and the United States. Meanwhile, the two nations have yet to make substantial progress on security commitments outlined in a joint fact sheet from the October 2025 summit.

Key commitments include cooperation on South Korea's nuclear-powered submarine program and its rights to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called for close cooperation with the U.S. on diplomatic and security agreements, stressing the need for bipartisan support in Congress.

In related developments, South Korea's Cabinet approved a bill to expand the operational scope of its anti-piracy Cheonghae unit. This decision comes amid calls from President Trump for South Korea to help secure the waterway in the Strait of Hormuz, which is strategically vital but currently blocked due to the U.S.-Iran conflict.