Foreign Minister Cho Tae Yul is set to visit Germany next week, with diplomatic circles closely watching whether he will visit the U.S. beforehand. Cho will attend the Munich Security Conference (MSC), the world’s largest annual international security forum, from February 14 to 16.
This marks Cho’s first MSC attendance since taking office last January. He skipped last year’s conference, considering various factors, including the absence of Japan’s Foreign Minister.
The MSC, established in the early 1960s, is Europe’s premier annual international security conference, addressing global and regional security issues. However, its high-profile bilateral meetings on its sidelines are a key attraction.
Cho is currently the only confirmed attendee from the South Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral alliance. However, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s attendance confirmed, there’s speculation that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Iwaya may also join. This raises the possibility of a trilateral foreign ministers’ meeting during the MSC.
There’s also keen interest in whether Cho will visit the U.S. before Germany, possibly leading to the first South Korea-U.S. foreign ministers’ meeting since President Trump’s second term started. Secretary Rubio extended a Washington invitation during his initial call with Cho on January 23, with both sides agreeing to meet promptly.
Rubio is scheduled to tour Panama, Guatemala, and El Salvador until February 6 and will attend the U.S.-Japan summit between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on February 7.
Given these commitments, analysts suggest that Cho’s potential visit to the U.S. could occur between February 8 and 14, allowing him to meet Rubio before heading to Germany.
A diplomatic source stated, “No U.S. visit is currently scheduled,” adding that they’re “coordinating with the U.S. side within the available timeframe.”
Beyond the MSC, the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting is set for February 20 to 21 in South Africa, where the three nations’ top diplomats could meet again. However, another diplomatic source emphasized, “A standalone U.S. visit allows for more in-depth discussions than sideline meetings at multilateral events.”
If Cho and Rubio meet, they will underscore the comprehensive South Korea-U.S. alliance, which remains robust even amid Korea’s impeachment crisis following the December 3 emergency martial law. They’re expected to discuss North Korea’s military ties with Russia, including troop deployments and Pyongyang’s ongoing nuclear and missile programs. Reaffirming shared goals like the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is crucial.
They may also exchange views on the Trump administration’s evolving policy toward North Korea.