Top S. Korean, US diplomats discuss investment, Hormuz, N. Korea

South Korea and the United States held talks in Washington on Friday on Seoul’s planned U.S. investment, possible involvement in securing the Strait of Hormuz, and North Korea diplomacy. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met for their first bilateral talks since February. The discussion came as Seoul and Washington were still preparing to announce South Korea’s first investment project under a $350 billion commitment. The announcement was reportedly postponed until next week after a National Assembly briefing delay.

The talks took place at the State Department in Washington and were the first bilateral meeting between Cho Hyun and Marco Rubio since February.

South Korea has pledged to invest $350 billion in the United States under last year’s bilateral trade agreement.

The first investment project under that agreement was initially expected to be announced on Friday, but it was reportedly postponed until next week.

A related briefing to the National Assembly was delayed, which pushed back the planned announcement.

The two sides were also expected to discuss cooperation on North Korea as U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to resume summitry with Kim Jong-un.

Published Sep 19, 2026 12:25 am KST

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, left, poses with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of their talks held on the sidelines of a series of ministerial meetings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Manila, July 22. Yonhap

WASHINGTON — The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States held talks in Washington on Friday, as the two countries have been in talks over the Asian country's planned investment in the U.S., its potential efforts to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and diplomacy toward North Korea.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met at the State Department for their first bilateral talks since February, as the allies face various issues, including how Seoul will contribute to ongoing efforts to restore free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

In a press conference hours ahead of their talks, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said that there will be no troop dispatch that might result in Seoul's involvement in an overseas conflict, but underscored the need for Korea to protect its citizens and national interests in the strait.

During the meeting, Cho and Rubio were also expected to discuss South Korea's commitment to investing $350 billion in the U.S. as part of last year's bilateral trade agreement.

Seoul and Washington were initially expected to announce South Korea's first investment project under the trade agreement on Friday (Korea time). But the announcement has reportedly been postponed until next week after a related briefing to the National Assembly was delayed.

The top diplomats could also discuss cooperation over North Korea-related issues as U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to resume summitry with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

韩国和美国周五在华盛顿举行会谈，讨论了首尔计划的美国投资项目、韩国可能参与维护霍尔木兹海峡安全以及朝鲜外交等议题。韩国外长赵显铉和美国国务卿马可·卢比奥举行了自2月份以来的首次双边会谈。此次会谈正值首尔和华盛顿准备宣布韩国首个3500亿美元投资项目之际。据报道，由于国会新闻发布会延期，该项目的宣布已被推迟至下周。

会谈在华盛顿国务院举行，这是赵显铉和马可·卢比奥自2月份以来的首次双边会晤。

根据去年签署的双边贸易协定，韩国承诺向美国投资3500亿美元。

根据该协议，首个投资项目原定于周五宣布，但据报道已推迟至下周。

向国民议会提交的相关简报被推迟，导致原定的公告发布也被推迟。

双方预计还将讨论在朝鲜问题上的合作，因为美国总统唐纳德·特朗普正寻求恢复与金正恩的峰会。

发布于2026年9月19日凌晨12:25（韩国标准时间）

7月22日，在马尼拉举行的东盟相关部长级会议期间，韩国外交部长赵显铉（左）与美国国务卿马可·卢比奥举行会谈。（韩联社）

华盛顿——韩国和美国的最高外交官周五在华盛顿举行会谈，两国一直在就韩国计划在美国的投资、其可能为确保霍尔木兹海峡安全所做的努力以及对朝鲜的外交政策进行磋商。

韩国外长赵显铉和美国国务卿马可·卢比奥在国务院举行了自2月份以来的首次双边会谈。两国盟友面临诸多问题，包括首尔将如何为恢复霍尔木兹海峡的自由安全通行做出贡献。

在会谈前几个小时举行的新闻发布会上，韩国总统李在明表示，不会派遣军队导致首尔卷入海外冲突，但他强调韩国有必要保护其公民和国家利益在海峡地区安全。

会晤期间，赵和卢比奥预计还将讨论韩国根据去年双边贸易协定向美国投资 3500 亿美元的承诺。

首尔和华盛顿原定于周五（韩国时间）宣布韩国根据贸易协定设立的首个投资项目。但据报道，由于向国会提交的相关简报会延期，该宣布已被推迟至下周。

美国总统唐纳德·特朗普寻求恢复与朝鲜领导人金正恩的峰会，两国高级外交官也可能讨论在朝鲜相关问题上的合作。