Foreign Minister Nominee Cho Hyun: "Achieving Productive North Korea-U.S. Dialogue and Establishing Peace on the Korean Peninsula"

Cho Hyun, nominee for Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated on June 24, "Achieving successful dialogue between North Korea and the United States and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula is the top priority of the Lee Jaemyung administration's foreign and unification policy."

Cho Hyun, nominee for Minister of Foreign Affairs, is answering reporters' questions as he arrives for his first day at the confirmation hearing preparation office set up in Daewoo Building, Jongno-gu, Seoul on June 24, 2025. Photo by Jo Yongjun

On the morning of June 24, as he arrived at the confirmation hearing preparation office near the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Cho met with reporters and said, "In line with President Lee Jaemyung's philosophy, I will work closely with the United States and other allies to ensure that there are no obstacles in pursuing these goals." When asked about his thoughts on being nominated, he added, "I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility as I take on this role at a time when the international situation is extremely unstable."

Bilateral talks between President Lee and U.S. President Donald Trump are being unintentionally delayed due to issues such as the Middle East crisis. President Lee has also decided not to attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, making it unlikely that a bilateral meeting will take place on the sidelines of a multilateral event in the near future. As a result, there is growing speculation that President Lee may soon visit the United States directly. Traditionally, every President of the Republic of Korea has chosen the United States as the destination for their first overseas visit after taking office, without exception. When asked about President Lee's plans to visit the United States, Cho said, "I think we need to move away from the fixed idea that the United States must be the first destination after inauguration," but added, "I believe it will naturally turn out that way."

Regarding the tariff negotiations, which are expected to be the most pressing issue between South Korea and the United States, Cho said, "We need to develop a well-thought-out strategy based on the 'pragmatic diplomacy' direction advocated by the Lee Jaemyung administration, and proceed calmly, wisely, and quietly."

When asked about the future direction of South Korea-Japan relations, Cho said, "During the first (South Korea-Japan) summit, President Lee set a clear position, and I will work to significantly advance the relationship in that direction." However, regarding historical issues that have long been an obstacle to bilateral relations, he added, "We need to resolve them through 'quiet diplomacy.'" On the task of restoring relations with China and Russia, he said, "We need to look at this in the larger context, along with other important issues, and make preparations accordingly."