Key facts
- Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Coons on Sept. 21, 2026, in New York.
- The discussions covered the South Korea-U.S. alliance, Korean Peninsula issues, and regional affairs.
- Cho and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed to maintain close communication on summit agreements.
- A joint fact sheet from November calls for Seoul to invest $350 billion in the U.S., including $150 billion for shipbuilding.
- The fact sheet also includes arrangements for Seoul's development of nuclear-powered submarines and uranium enrichment rights.
- Senators Shaheen and Coons expressed strong bipartisan support for the alliance and Seoul's U.S. investments.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Coons in New York on September 21, 2026, to discuss the bilateral alliance, issues concerning the Korean Peninsula, and regional affairs. The meeting occurred during the U.N. General Assembly's high-level week.
Cho highlighted an agreement with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to maintain close communication regarding key summit agreements. He also sought active support from the U.S. Congress for advancing strategic cooperation in areas such as shipbuilding and nuclear energy. The discussions were informed by a joint fact sheet issued in November following a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump.
This fact sheet outlines Seoul's commitment to invest $350 billion in the United States, with $150 billion allocated to shipbuilding cooperation, in exchange for reduced U.S. tariffs. It also addresses security arrangements, including South Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines and rights for uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing.
Foreign Minister Cho provided his assessment of the Korean Peninsula's situation and detailed South Korea's efforts toward denuclearization and peace. Senators Shaheen and Coons affirmed strong bipartisan congressional support for the alliance and welcomed Seoul's investments, noting their contribution to job creation and the U.S. manufacturing sector. They pledged continued congressional attention and support for the smooth implementation of summit agreements and cooperation for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.