Foreign Minister Cho Hyun Holds Consecutive Meetings with U.S. Senators and White House Officials to Discuss Economic and Alliance Cooperation

Request for Cooperation in Advanced Technologies such as AI and SMRs
Discussions with Senior White House Officials on Preparations for the Summit

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is shaking hands with Secretary of State Mark Rubio on the 31st (local time) at the U.S. Department of State in Washington DC before their first Korea-US foreign ministers' meeting since taking office. [Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

On August 1 (local time), Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held a series of meetings in Washington, D.C., with key U.S. senators and senior White House officials to discuss current issues such as the South Korea-U.S. alliance, trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, and the North Korean nuclear issue.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Cho met separately with Senator Bill Hagerty and Senator Pete Ricketts, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, and also spoke by phone with Senator Dan Sullivan.

He emphasized the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, and assessed that the recent conclusion of the bilateral tariff negotiations has strengthened the foundation for strategic economic cooperation between the two countries.

He also requested the support of the U.S. Congress to expand future-oriented cooperation in advanced science and technology fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, and small modular reactors (SMRs).

The senators stated that, following the tariff agreement, they would actively cooperate to ensure that Korea's increased investment in the U.S. leads to job creation in fields such as shipbuilding and manufacturing. Senator Ricketts, in particular, reaffirmed the United States' commitment to the defense of South Korea, including maintaining the current level of U.S. Forces Korea and providing extended deterrence.

Minister Cho also held a series of meetings with senior White House officials. He met with Vice President's National Security Advisor Andrew Baker to congratulate him on the conclusion of the tariff negotiations and expressed his gratitude for Baker's cooperation. He then requested support to ensure that the upcoming South Korea-U.S. summit would serve as an opportunity to solidify the achievements of bilateral cooperation.

In addition, as the first South Korean government official to do so, he met with Kevin Hassett, Chair of the White House National Economic Council, to request cooperation for the successful hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. In his meeting with Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, they shared the view on the importance of scientific and technological cooperation in building a future-oriented strategic alliance.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "This series of meetings with senior White House officials demonstrates the high regard the U.S. side has for the South Korea-U.S. alliance and the recent conclusion of the tariff negotiations."