Cho Hyun heads to US for talks with Rubio — Anadolu Agency
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun departed for Washington, US, on Thursday for a three-day visit to hold talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting is scheduled for Friday, US time. This was reported by Anadolu Agency, citing Yonhap, which quoted South Korea’s Foreign Ministry.
Talks agenda
The sides are expected to discuss bilateral economic and security issues, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, regional affairs, the international situation and the conflict in the Middle East.
Before departing from Incheon International Airport, Cho Hyun said Seoul and Washington would hold in-depth consultations on various unresolved issues in bilateral relations, as well as matters concerning the Korean Peninsula, the region and the international situation.
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Strait of Hormuz and investments
Seoul and Washington have differing positions on South Korea’s role in ensuring freedom of navigation in the nearly closed Strait of Hormuz and on South Korea’s investment plans in the US. US President Donald Trump is pressuring Seoul, urging it to join efforts to restore freedom of navigation through the strait.
The government of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is considering whether to deploy military assets to the region, given domestic opposition and warnings from Iran. Cho Hyun stressed that no final decision has yet been made and that, while considering options, the authorities would take into account international cooperation, citizens’ safety and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The countries have also not yet finalized the details of an agreement under which South Korea pledged to invest $350 billion in the US in exchange for lower tariff rates.
