Munich: The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States were set to hold talks in Munich on Saturday, focusing on the bilateral alliance, North Korea issues, and Trump’s tariff plans. Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul is scheduled to meet one-on-one with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. This meeting marks the first high-level talks between the allies since the launch of the Donald Trump administration.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting comes at a time when South Korea is seeking to ensure a smooth path in its relationship with the second Trump administration. The political climate has been uncertain due to the now-impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law bid in December last year. Trump’s announcement regarding tariffs on steel and aluminum, along with potential new tariffs on vehicles and chips, has necessitated swift coordination with Washington, as South Korea could be the next target of Trump’s tariff policies.
The South Korean foreign ministry announced that “bilateral economic cooperation” would be a key topic of discussion, alongside North Korean nuclear issues and trilateral cooperation with Japan. Cho is expected to express South Korea’s stance on Trump’s economic and security issues while reaffirming the bilateral alliance with Washington. The U.S. commitment to deterring North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats will also be reaffirmed.
Cho is likely to discuss with Rubio the coordination of the U.S. policy approach to North Korea’s denuclearization under the second Trump term. This remains a shared goal for the allies. The issue of North Korea’s denuclearization has gained attention after Trump referred to Pyongyang as a “nuclear power,” sparking debate in Seoul over the potential recognition of the regime as a nuclear weapons state. Trump later reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the “complete denuclearization of North Korea” during a recent summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Following their talks, Cho will join Rubio and their Japanese counterpart, Takeshi Iwaya, for a trilateral meeting. The three sides are expected to emphasize the importance of maintaining and advancing three-way cooperation. Cho’s visit to the German city also marks his first overseas trip since the martial law incident.