The foreign ministers of South Korea and the United States discussed common issues, including bilateral relations, trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, and issues related to the Korean Peninsula.
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday that Foreign Minister Cho Tae Yul held discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State Department in Washington, D.C. on Thursday (local time), following the South Korea-U.S. Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting (2+2 Meeting). This meeting took place about a month after their trilateral discussions with Japan during last month’s high-level week of the UN General Assembly.
During the meeting, both ministers expressed concern over the current situation, stating that military cooperation between Russia and North Korea resulted in actual troop deployments. They agreed to closely share information and coordinate their responses regarding North Korean troops’ involvement in combat and potential additional deployments.
Cho urged Blinken to ensure that key achievements made under the Biden administration, such as the deepening of South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation following the Camp David Summit and the strengthening of extended deterrence through the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) established by the Washington Declaration, are effectively passed on to the following U.S. administration.
Cho emphasized the importance of expanding and modernizing the G7 in response to the evolving international landscape and underscored the South Korean government’s commitment to taking on a more significant role in fostering global peace and prosperity.
Blinken expressed support for South Korea’s participation in the G7, stating that we hope South Korea continues to play a role commensurate with its capabilities and contributions. He also assured that bipartisan support for the South Korea-U.S. alliance remains strong in the United States, and I will do my part to ensure our bilateral relationship continues to grow.
The two ministers agreed to maintain close communication through various channels, including major diplomatic events in the latter half of the year, such as the G20 and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summits. They also committed to ongoing efforts to organize a South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit before the year’s end.
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