MUNICH/SEOUL – The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States held their first one-on-one meeting Saturday since the inauguration of the second Donald Trump administration, with discussions centered on the bilateral alliance, North Korea, and the U.S.’s latest tariff policies.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, as Seoul seeks to navigate its relationship with the new Trump administration, which has introduced bold tariff policies while maintaining an ambiguous stance on North Korea.
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The meeting also came at a critical time for South Korea, which has been working to sustain diplomatic stability following the shocking martial law attempt by now-impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol in December last year.
Trump’s recent announcement of plans to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum, along with potential new tariffs on vehicles and semiconductors, has raised concerns that South Korea could become the next target. In anticipation, South Korea’s foreign ministry had earlier stated that “bilateral economic cooperation” would be a key topic in the discussions, alongside North Korea’s nuclear issue and trilateral security cooperation with Japan.
Upon his arrival in Munich on Friday (local time), Cho emphasized his intent to explore solutions with Rubio regarding the Trump administration’s planned and potential tariffs on South Korea. He also highlighted strategic cooperation in key industries such as shipbuilding, atomic energy, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence.
Cho reiterated South Korea’s commitment to the alliance, emphasizing how the country’s contributions align with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” vision. The meeting was also expected to reaffirm Washington’s commitment to deterring North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
A significant point of discussion was the U.S. approach to North Korea’s denuclearization under Trump’s second term, ensuring that both allies remain aligned on this critical security issue. The topic has gained renewed attention after Trump and his officials recently referred to North Korea as a “nuclear power,” sparking debate in Seoul over whether Washington might be shifting toward recognizing Pyongyang as a nuclear-armed state. However, Trump later reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the “complete denuclearization of North Korea” during a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Following the bilateral talks, Cho was scheduled to participate in a trilateral meeting alongside Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. The three officials were expected to emphasize the importance of strengthening and advancing trilateral security cooperation.
Cho’s three-day visit to Munich also marked his first overseas diplomatic engagement since the turmoil surrounding the martial law attempt in South Korea. His participation in high-level meetings underscores Seoul’s commitment to maintaining strong alliances amid shifting geopolitical and economic landscapes.
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