Key facts
- Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with U.S. lawmakers in Washington on Thursday.
- Cho discussed bilateral relations and issues related to the Korean Peninsula and global security.
- He met with Sen. Bill Hagerty, Rep. Jim Jordan, and Rep. Gregory Meeks.
- Cho emphasized the growing importance of Seoul-Washington cooperation amid changing international circumstances.
- He called for U.S. Congressional support for the Joint Fact Sheet (JFS).
- The JFS includes Seoul's pledge to invest $350 billion in the U.S. for reduced tariffs and cooperation in nuclear and security sectors.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with U.S. lawmakers in Washington on Thursday to discuss bilateral relations and regional security issues. The meetings, part of Cho's three-day trip, involved discussions with Sen. Bill Hagerty, Rep. Jim Jordan, and Rep. Gregory Meeks.
During the meetings, Cho highlighted the increasing importance of cooperation between Seoul and Washington given the rapidly changing international landscape. He urged active support from the U.S. Congress for the swift implementation of the Joint Fact Sheet (JFS). The JFS, agreed upon following a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump, details commitments such as South Korea's pledge to invest $350 billion in the United States in return for reduced U.S. tariffs, alongside cooperation in nuclear and other security matters.
Senator Hagerty acknowledged Seoul's efforts in strengthening trilateral cooperation with Washington and Tokyo, pledging continued support for the alliance and Korean companies operating in Tennessee. Representative Jordan emphasized the importance of managing bilateral issues through mutual trust and reinforcing the alliance. Representative Meeks called for enhanced coordination on peace and security, assuring Cho of bipartisan support for bilateral cooperation from the U.S. Congress.
Minister Cho stated that Seoul would continue to bolster the alliance through proactive communication with both the U.S. administration and Congress. He also requested lawmakers' sustained support for the alliance post the November midterm elections. Cho was scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday before concluding his engagements on Saturday.