Ahead of US Visit, Foreign Minister Cho: "Lee Administration's Pragmatic Diplomacy to Upgrade South Korea-US-Japan Cooperation"

On July 29, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun stated that the reason for choosing Japan as her first overseas destination after taking office was "to upgrade trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan, based on the Lee Jaemyung administration's 'pragmatic diplomacy.'

On the 29th, Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is visiting Japan, is answering questions from reporters at Gimpo International Airport in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. 2025.7.29 Yonhap News Photo by Yonhap

Minister Cho made this comment when asked by reporters at Gimpo Airport why she was visiting Japan before the United States. On this day, Minister Cho is scheduled to hold a South Korea-Japan foreign ministers' meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi in Tokyo, Japan. The following day, July 30, she plans to head directly to Washington, United States. On July 31 (local time), she is scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, United States.

South Korea-Japan relations have long experienced ups and downs due to historical issues. It is unprecedented for a South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs to visit Japan first after taking office. Notably, at a critical time when the South Korea-United States tariff negotiations are nearing their conclusion, Japan is a country that reached a tariff agreement with the United States before South Korea. Therefore, the foreign ministers of both countries are expected to discuss related issues.

However, Minister Cho said, "I will listen to the Japanese side's explanation regarding the Japan-United States tariff negotiations, but the direction of our negotiations is different." She added, "More important than that is the discussion on how to strengthen the overall South Korea-United States alliance and trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan." She continued, "President Lee Jaemyung has a strong will to restore shuttle diplomacy with Japan, and I will also deliver that message."

Minister Cho also plans to meet with figures from Japan's political and diplomatic-security sectors during this visit.

Regarding the upcoming South Korea-United States foreign ministers' meeting with Secretary Rubio on July 31, she said, "Since the (South Korea-United States) tariff negotiations are in their final stage, I will provide as much support as possible." Concerning the schedule for the South Korea-United States summit, she added, "We plan to discuss it comprehensively." After meeting with key figures in Washington, United States, as well as think tank scholars, she plans to return to South Korea around the weekend.