US-South Korea Foreign Ministers' Meeting Likely to Be Held in Washington, D.C. a Day Before 'Tariff Suspension Deadline'

"Discussing the Convening of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting"

It is expected that the US-South Korea Foreign Ministers' Meeting will be held in Washington, D.C., United States, on the 31st (local time), the day before the mutually agreed tariff suspension deadline set by the United States.

According to diplomatic sources on the 25th, the foreign affairs authorities of the two countries are reportedly coordinating the schedule for the first meeting between Minister Cho Hyun and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The foreign affairs authorities of South Korea and the US are in discussions about holding a Foreign Ministers' Meeting."

It is anticipated that during this meeting, Minister Cho will present the South Korean government’s stance on key issues between the two countries, including tariff and trade negotiations, the sharing of defense costs, and the realignment of roles of US forces stationed in South Korea. There is also a possibility that the schedule and agenda for the US-South Korea summit will be coordinated.

However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that a specific date for the US-South Korea Foreign Ministers' Meeting has not yet been confirmed. Since the main departments dealing with the tariff issues are the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, it is known that the schedule of this Foreign Ministers' Meeting is not directly linked to the conclusion of the tariff negotiations.

Since his inauguration on the 21st, Minister Cho has not yet had a phone conversation with Secretary Rubio.

By Baeseongsoo | baebae@hankyung.com