FM Cho heads to Washington for talks with Rubio on investment, Hormuz, N. Korea

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun left for Washington on Thursday for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio on bilateral economic and security issues, North Korea and the Middle East. The three-day visit includes a Friday meeting in Washington, as Seoul and Washington remain divided over the Strait of Hormuz and South Korea’s U.S.-bound investment plans. Cho said no decision has been made on a possible deployment to the Strait of Hormuz and that safety and freedom of navigation remain priorities. North Korea is also expected to be a major topic, with both sides seeking closer coordination on dialogue with Pyongyang and its nuclear issue.

Cho Hyun is scheduled to be in Washington for three days through Saturday, with a meeting with Rubio set for Friday U.S. time.

South Korea pledged to invest 350 billion dollars in the United States, including 150 billion dollars for shipbuilding cooperation, under a joint fact sheet from last year’s summit.

South Korea had expected to announce its first investment project this week, but the industry ministry postponed a planned National Assembly briefing on Thursday.

Potential investment projects reportedly include a large-scale gas-fired power plant in Texas and nuclear power plants.

Trump has expressed interest in reengaging with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this year, and Seoul says it wants close coordination with Washington on resuming dialogue and handling North Korea’s nuclear issues.

Published Sep 17, 2026 11:25 am KST

Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, right, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attend their meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (not pictured) in Manila, July 22, as the three countries' foreign chiefs hold a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of meetings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Yonhap

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun left for Washington on Thursday for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio that are expected to cover a range of pending issues, including bilateral economic and security arrangements, North Korea and the Middle East conflict.

Cho will make a three-day visit to Washington through Saturday, with his itinerary including a meeting with Rubio on Friday (U.S. time), according to the ministry.

"We will have in-depth discussions on various pending issues between the two nations, as well as consultations on issues concerning the Korean Peninsula, regional affairs and the international situation," Cho told reporters before departing from Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul.

The meeting comes as Seoul and Washington have a number of outstanding issues on which the two sides have differing positions, including Seoul's role in securing the Strait of Hormuz and its U.S.-bound investment plans.

As the Donald Trump administration has pressured South Korea to contribute to efforts to restore freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway, the Seoul government has been weighing whether to deploy military assets to the region amid opposition at home and warnings from Iran.

"Our position remains that no decision has been made yet, and we are reviewing all relevant factors. In doing so, we will prioritize international cooperation while giving foremost consideration to the safety of our people and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz," Cho said.

The two nations also have yet to finalize details of South Korea's investment commitments under a joint fact sheet adopted after last year's summit between President Lee Jae Myung and Trump.

Under the agreement, South Korea pledged to invest $350 billion in the United States, including $150 billion for shipbuilding cooperation, in return for lower U.S. tariff rates. The deal also includes other security arrangements.

South Korea had initially been expected to announce its first investment project under the agreement this week, but the industry ministry has postponed a planned briefing to the National Assembly on Thursday for undisclosed reasons.

"I understand the delay is aimed at clarifying domestic procedural issues, rather than reflecting differences between the two nations," Cho said at the airport. "I will clearly explain what we can do, while maintaining a firm stance on issues that run counter to the national interest or our approach."

Potential projects reportedly include a large-scale gas-fired power plant in Texas and nuclear power plants.

North Korea is also expected to be high on the agenda.

Trump has expressed interest in reengaging with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this year. Seoul has stressed the importance of close coordination with Washington in seeking the resumption of dialogue with Pyongyang and addressing its nuclear issues.

"The two countries have a range of pending economic and security issues, and the two ministers have shared the need to meet in person to discuss and coordinate on them," a foreign ministry official said, referring to the upcoming Cho-Rubio meeting.

韩国外长赵显铉周四启程前往华盛顿，与美国国务卿马克·卢比奥就双边经济和安全问题、朝鲜问题以及中东局势举行会谈。此次为期三天的访问包括周五在华盛顿举行的会晤。首尔和华盛顿在霍尔木兹海峡问题以及韩国对美投资计划上仍存在分歧。赵显铉表示，尚未就可能向霍尔木兹海峡部署军事力量做出决定，航行安全和自由仍然是首要任务。朝鲜问题预计也将是双方会谈的重要议题，双方都希望就与平壤的对话以及朝鲜核问题加强协调。

赵显铉计划在华盛顿停留三天，直至周六，并定于美国时间周五与卢比奥会面。

根据去年峰会的一份联合情况说明书，韩国承诺向美国投资 3500 亿美元，其中包括 1500 亿美元用于造船合作。

韩国原计划在本周宣布其首个投资项目，但产业通商资源部推迟了原定于周四在国会举行的简报会。

据报道，潜在的投资项目包括德克萨斯州的一座大型燃气发电厂和核电站。

特朗普已表示有兴趣在今年与朝鲜领导人金正恩重新接触，而首尔方面表示希望与华盛顿密切协调，以恢复对话并处理朝鲜的核问题。

发布于2026年9月17日上午11:25（韩国标准时间）

7月22日，韩国外长赵显铉（右）和美国国务卿马可·卢比奥在马尼拉会见了日本外相茂木敏充（未在图中）。此次三国外长在东盟相关会议期间举行了三方会晤。（韩联社）

韩国外长赵显铉周四启程前往华盛顿，与美国国务卿马克·卢比奥举行会谈，预计会谈将涵盖一系列悬而未决的问题，包括双边经济和安全安排、朝鲜问题以及中东冲突。

据外交部消息，赵显龙将于周六前对华盛顿进行为期三天的访问，行程包括周五（美国时间）与卢比奥会面。

“我们将就两国之间悬而未决的各种问题进行深入讨论，并就朝鲜半岛问题、地区事务和国际形势进行磋商，”赵在离开首尔以西的仁川国际机场前告诉记者。

此次会晤正值首尔和华盛顿之间存在诸多悬而未决的问题，双方立场存在分歧，包括首尔在保障霍尔木兹海峡安全方面的作用及其对美投资计划。

由于唐纳德·特朗普政府向韩国施压，要求其为恢复这条战略水道的航行自由做出贡献，首尔政府一直在权衡是否向该地区部署军事力量，尽管国内反对声浪高涨，伊朗也发出警告。

“我们的立场仍然是尚未做出任何决定，我们正在审查所有相关因素。在此过程中，我们将优先考虑国际合作，同时将我国人民的安全和霍尔木兹海峡的航行自由放在首位，”赵立坚说。

两国尚未最终确定韩国在去年李在明总统和特朗普总统峰会后通过的联合情况说明书中作出的投资承诺的细节。

根据协议，韩国承诺向美国投资3500亿美元，其中包括1500亿美元用于造船合作，以换取美国降低关税。该协议还包括其他安全安排。

韩国原计划于本周宣布根据该协议推出的首个投资项目，但产业通商资源部以未公开的原因推迟了原定于周四向国会举行的简报会。

“我理解此次延误旨在澄清国内程序问题，而非反映两国之间的分歧，”赵立坚在机场表示。“我将清楚地解释我们能做什么，同时在涉及国家利​​益或我们方针的问题上保持坚定立场。”

据报道，潜在项目包括在德克萨斯州建设一座大型燃气发电厂和核电站。

预计朝鲜问题也将是此次会议的重要议题。

特朗普已表示有意在今年与朝鲜领导人金正恩重新接触。首尔方面强调，在寻求恢复与平壤的对话并解决其核问题方面，与华盛顿密切协调至关重要。

一位外交部官员在谈到即将举行的乔-鲁比奥会晤时表示：“两国存在一系列悬而未决的经济和安全问题，两位部长都表示有必要亲自会面，讨论和协调这些问题。”