Seoul: South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul held his first phone call on Thursday with the newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which they agreed to maintain close cooperation on North Korea's nuclear issues, as confirmed by the foreign ministry.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the phone conversation took place shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump was inaugurated on Monday (U.S. time). The discussions between the top diplomats of South Korea and the U.S. encompassed bilateral relations, North Korean nuclear issues, and trilateral cooperation with Japan.
Cho welcomed Rubio's inauguration and expressed his optimism about further strengthening the 70-year South Korea-U.S. alliance under the Trump administration. Rubio emphasized the alliance as a cornerstone of peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and the broader region, reaffirming the U.S.' unwavering defense commitment to South Korea.
Both ministers concurred on the necessity of maintaining close cooperation regarding North Korea's nuclear issues and enhancing trilateral cooperation with Japan. Rubio extended an invitation to Cho to visit the U.S., with plans to arrange in-person talks in Washington at the earliest convenient time.
During Thursday's exchange, Cho highlighted the importance of robust communication between the nations, including the need for a conversation between acting President Choi Sang-mok and President Trump. Rubio assured that he would take necessary actions to facilitate this.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce separately noted that Cho and Rubio discussed advancing bilateral cooperation to address shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. These challenges likely include North Korean threats and China's increasing assertiveness. Bruce reiterated that the U.S.-ROK Alliance remains central to peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and across the Indo-Pacific.
The dialogue also underscored the critical importance of enhancing trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, as per the spokesperson.