U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held his first face-to-face meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Thursday, reaffirming their commitment to North Korea’s complete denuclearization and emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
The State Department issued a statement through spokesperson Tammy Bruce, announcing that Secretary Rubio met with Minister Cho in Washington, D.C.
According to the State Department, the two ministers highlighted the robust strength of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, which has served as a cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region for over 70 years.
They also expressed continued support for shared goals to strengthen the U.S.-South Korea alliance, including maintaining a strong combined defense posture and providing extended deterrence for South Korea.
Furthermore, Secretary Rubio and Minister Cho discussed various efforts to advance the shared prosperity of the U.S. and South Korea, particularly focusing on strengthening supply chains and cooperation in key and emerging technology sectors.
The statement added that both officials welcomed the announcement of a comprehensive trade agreement and President Lee Jae-myung’s upcoming visit to Washington, D.C.
Notably, Secretary Rubio and Minister Cho reaffirmed their firm commitment to North Korea’s complete denuclearization and the full implementation of international sanctions. They also expressed serious concerns about the strengthening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, according to the State Department.
Spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as essential for the security and prosperity of the international community. They also discussed the significance of continuing trilateral cooperation among the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, which plays a crucial role in deterring regional security threats and enhancing resilience.