Korea-US Foreign Ministers' Talks Begin; Hormuz Deployment and US Investment at Stake

The Korea-US foreign ministers' talks were held on the morning of the 18th (local time) at the U.S. State Department building in Washington, D.C. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio exchanged views on the issue of deploying forces to the Strait of Hormuz and the $350 billion investment in the United States. The talks lasted about 50 minutes.

Minister Cho conveyed the Korean government's willingness to make practical contributions alongside the United States and the international community to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Secretary Rubio emphasized the importance of cooperation, including freedom of navigation in the strait.

A senior Foreign Ministry official said the Korean side explained to the U.S. that there would be no deployment involving or intervening in the war, and that the U.S. side made no request for such a deployment. President Lee Jae-myung stated at a press conference the day before the talks, "There will be no deployment involving or intervening in the war." However, he added, "The Cheonghae unit has already been dispatched to the Middle East to respond to threats to citizens' safety such as piracy. It is true that we are reviewing and carefully considering how to strengthen it."

Regarding the $350 billion investment in the United States, discussions were held at the foreign ministers' level. The announcement of the first U.S. investment was postponed to next week as the report to the National Assembly was delayed.