Interview on Returning from the United States
On the afternoon of August 3, at Incheon International Airport, Minister Cho met with reporters and commented on the South Korea-U.S. summit, saying, "We are making final adjustments," and added, "It will not be delayed beyond this month."
Minister Cho emphasized that, in meetings with U.S. officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, "We once again confirmed the firm joint response posture between South Korea and the United States, as well as extended deterrence, and agreed to continue cooperating in this manner going forward."
Regarding the "alliance modernization" raised by the U.S. side, he explained, "Above all, in the midst of these significant changes in the international situation, we are strengthening our national defense and carrying out various necessary measures."
He also addressed interpretations that alliance modernization is part of the U.S. strategy to contain China, saying, "I understand there are concerns about our relationship with China, but regarding China, we have clearly explained the necessity and the measures our government will take," and added, "I do not believe this will become a major difficulty."
Minister Cho stated that the role and character of U.S. Forces Korea were not deeply discussed during this visit, saying, "We talked about international situations that may pose challenges for us in the future," and added, "Further discussions on these matters will continue at the working level."
Regarding the possibility that U.S. demands may arise in the security sector following tariff negotiations with the United States, he said, "I believe that South Korea and the United States can achieve a win-win outcome not only in the industrial sector but also in the field of national defense."
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