Paris:South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in France to discuss North Korea and various bilateral issues, as reported by Seoul's foreign ministry.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho and Rubio held a pull-aside meeting on the sidelines of a Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' meeting. They exchanged views on overall bilateral relations, high-level exchanges, and issues related to North Korea, although further details were not disclosed by the ministry.
The meeting took place as Seoul aims to maintain momentum on key bilateral and regional issues following the U.S. midterm elections on November 3. In these elections, the Democrats gained control of both chambers of Congress, posing a significant challenge to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
Seoul and Washington have yet to make significant progress in follow-up consultations on key security commitments outlined in a joint fact sheet after the October 2025 summit between President Lee Jae Myung and President Trump. These commitments include cooperation on South Korea's initiative to build nuclear-powered attack submarines and expand its rights to enrich uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes.
Earlier in the day, during a Cabinet meeting, President Lee emphasized the importance of close cooperation with the U.S. government to implement bilateral diplomatic and security agreements. He also stressed the need to build bipartisan support in Congress for issues concerning South Korea and the alliance.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved a bill seeking parliamentary consent for the government's plan to expand the operational scope of its anti-piracy Cheonghae unit from waters off the Somali coast to areas near the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump has urged South Korea and other countries to help secure this vital waterway, which remains effectively blocked amid the U.S.-Iran war.