On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of State announced that the foreign ministers of South Korea and the U.S. reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea during a meeting held in Washington, D.C.
In a statement issued that afternoon by Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, the State Department emphasized that both ministers underscored the critical importance of trilateral cooperation among the U.S., South Korea, and Japan in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region and ensuring regional stability.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks that afternoon at the State Department headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Deputy Spokesperson Pigott stated that Secretary Rubio and Minister Cho emphasized the unwavering continuation of the U.S.-South Korea alliance. He added that Secretary Rubio expressed appreciation for South Korea’s significant leadership in establishing a secure, resilient, and diversified critical mineral supply chain.
Pigott also noted that Secretary Rubio and Minister Jo discussed strategies to strengthen the U.S.-South Korea alliance, focusing on forward-looking agenda items, building upon the recent summits held by President Donald Trump and President Lee Jae Myung in Washington and Gyeongju. The two ministers agreed to maintain close cooperation to expand South Korea’s investments in key U.S. industries, including civilian nuclear power, nuclear submarines, and shipbuilding, as part of efforts to revitalize America’s core industrial sectors.