Cho, Rubio agree to work together for 'good' results from talks on US investment projects

South Korea and the United States said they would work together for good results from talks on Seoul’s investment projects in the U.S. during a meeting in Washington on Friday. The talks are tied to last year’s bilateral trade deal, under which Seoul committed to invest $350 billion in the U.S. The first investment project announcement was expected on Friday but was reportedly delayed until next week after a National Assembly briefing was postponed. The two sides also reaffirmed their alliance and cooperation on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Seoul and Washington were initially expected to announce Korea’s first investment project on Friday, but the announcement was reportedly postponed until next week.

The postponement reportedly followed a delay in a related briefing to the National Assembly.

The investment talks are part of efforts to implement last year’s bilateral trade deal under which Seoul committed to invest $350 billion in the U.S.

The ministry said the two sides also agreed to continue communication for the faithful implementation of their key agreements, including the Joint Fact Sheet released in November.

Cho told Rubio that Seoul wanted to contribute substantively to efforts to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Published Sep 19, 2026 12:25 am KST

Updated Sep 19, 2026 7:02 am KST

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, left, shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio before their talks at the State Department in Washington, Friday, in this photo released by the foreign ministry. Yonhap

WASHINGTON — The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States agreed to work together for "good" results from bilateral talks on the Asian country's investment projects in the U.S. during their meeting in Washington on Friday, the foreign ministry said.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met at the State Department as the two countries have been in talks over the investment projects as part of efforts to implement last year's bilateral trade deal under which Seoul committed to investing $350 billion in the U.S.

Seoul and Washington were initially expected to announce Korea's first investment project 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 minister and secretary agreed to make joint efforts to ensure that ongoing consultations related to strategic investment projects in the U.S. will yield good results, and to continue communication for the faithful implementation of both leaders' key agreements, including the Joint Fact Sheet (JFS)," the ministry said.

The ministry was referring to the fact sheet that Seoul and Washington released in November to outline security, trade and other agreements from last year's summits between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump.

During the talks, Cho explained to Rubio Seoul's will to contribute "substantively" to the efforts to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and called on the secretary to continue close communication on the matter.

The two sides also reaffirmed their "solid" commitment to the bilateral alliance, and agreed to continue efforts to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and peace and stability on the peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy, according to the ministry.

韩国和美国周五在华盛顿举行会晤，表示将共同努力，争取首尔对美投资项目谈判取得良好成果。此次会谈与去年签署的双边贸易协议相关，根据该协议，首尔承诺对美投资3500亿美元。原定于周五公布的首个投资项目，据报道因国会新闻发布会延期而推迟至下周。双方还重申了在朝鲜半岛无核化和霍尔木兹海峡航行自由问题上的联盟与合作。

首尔和华盛顿原定于周五宣布韩国首个投资项目，但据报道，该宣布已推迟至下周。

据报道，此次延期是由于向国民议会进行的相关情况通报有所延误。

此次投资谈判是落实去年双边贸易协议的一部分，根据该协议，首尔承诺向美国投资3500亿美元。

该部表示，双方还同意继续沟通，以确保各项关键协议得到切实执行，包括11月发布的联合情况说明书。

赵告诉鲁比奥，首尔希望为恢复霍尔木兹海峡的航行自由做出实质性贡献。

发布于2026年9月19日凌晨12:25（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月19日 上午7:02（韩国标准时间）

韩国外交部发布的这张照片显示，周五在华盛顿国务院，韩国外长赵显铉（左）与美国国务卿马可·卢比奥在会谈前握手。（韩联社）

华盛顿——韩国外交部表示，韩国和美国最高外交官周五在华盛顿举行会晤，同意共同努力，争取就韩国在美国的投资项目举行的双边会谈取得“良好”成果。

韩国外交部长赵显铉与美国国务卿马可·卢比奥在国务院会晤，两国就投资项目进行磋商，这是落实去年双边贸易协议的一部分。根据该协议，首尔承诺向美国投资3500亿美元。

首尔和华盛顿原定于周五（韩国时间）宣布韩国首个投资项目。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。

该部表示：“部长和秘书同意共同努力，确保正在进行的与美国战略投资项目相关的磋商取得良好成果，并继续沟通，以忠实落实两国领导人的关键协议，包括《联合情况说明书》。

该部指的是首尔和华盛顿在11月发布的情况说明书，其中概述了韩国总统李在明和美国总统唐纳德·特朗普去年峰会达成的安全、贸易和其他协议。

会谈期间，赵向鲁比奥解释了首尔愿为恢复霍尔木兹海峡航行自由做出“实质性”贡献的意愿，并呼吁国务卿继续就此事保持密切沟通。

据韩国国防部消息，双方还重申了对双边同盟的“坚定”承诺，并同意继续通过对话和外交努力实现朝鲜半岛无核化以及半岛的和平与稳定。