Korean FM Cho to hold 1st talks with Rubio in Munich this weekend
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul will hold his first talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week in Munich, Germany, on the sidelines of a multilateral security conference, the foreign ministry said Thursday, Yonhap reports.
During the meeting, Cho and Rubio are expected to discuss North Korean nuclear issues, trilateral cooperation with Japan and bilateral economic cooperation, ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said during a press briefing.
Both Cho and Rubio are scheduled to participate in the 61st Munich Security Conference, set for Friday through Sunday. Their talks are said to take place Saturday.
It will mark the first one-on-one talks between the top diplomats of South Korea and the U.S. since President Donald Trump took office in January for his second term.
Seoul and Washington are also reportedly in the process of arranging separate trilateral talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on the conference's sidelines.
During their bilateral meeting, Cho and Rubio are expected to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening the South Korea-U.S. alliance under Trump's second term and coordinate their respective polices on North Korea's denuclearization.
Cho is also expected to emphasize South Korea's contributions to the upkeep of U.S. forces stationed in the country and Seoul's position on Trump's recent announcement of new import tariffs, according to the ministry.
Cho and Rubio held their first phone call on Jan. 23 and agreed to maintain close cooperation on North Korea's nuclear issues.
As reported previously, South Korea has made an official bid for 2029 Invictus Games.