In their first official meeting since the inauguration of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung last month, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held high-level talks in Washington on Thursday. The discussions come amid key alliance priorities including North Korea’s growing nuclear threats and preparations for an upcoming presidential summit.

The meeting at the U.S. State Department occurred just a day after former President Donald Trump announced a new trade deal with South Korea. Trump confirmed that his summit with President Lee will take place at the White House in two weeks.

The diplomatic discussions are expected to focus on strategic coordination against North Korea’s nuclear advancements, regional security, and the long-term direction of the U.S.–South Korea alliance. Global and Indo-Pacific issues are also part of the agenda.

“This agreement, as the Secretary is meeting today with ROK Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, reflects the unwavering strength of the U.S.-ROK alliance, which has served as the linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific for more than 70 years,” said Tommy Pigott, principal deputy spokesperson of the U.S. State Department.

ROK is the official abbreviation for South Korea, the Republic of Korea.

South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, part of the trade negotiation delegation, told reporters that Trump personally expressed his desire to meet President Lee and instructed Secretary Rubio to expedite the summit arrangements.

With tensions rising on the Korean Peninsula and broader Indo-Pacific realignments underway, this diplomatic engagement signals continuity and reinforcement in U.S.–South Korea strategic ties.