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Cho Hyun, Marco Rubio discuss Korea's nuclear power cooperation

Published: 04 Feb. 2026, 09:13 Updated: 04 Feb. 2026, 18:09

Korea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun, left, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio shake hands upon meeting for bilateral talks at the State Department in Washington on Feb. 3. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

WASHINGTON — South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday, with the two sides agreeing to continue close cooperation on South Korea’s nuclear power generation and the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines.

South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release after the bilateral talks were held at the State Department in Washington, in which Cho recalled Rubio’s role in helping finalize the joint fact sheet from last year’s bilateral summit and called for the agreements to be carried out quickly and meaningfully.

“Cho asked Secretary Rubio to play a leading role in ensuring that cooperation in key areas — including nuclear power, nuclear-powered submarines and shipbuilding — delivers tangible results this year in line with specific milestones,” the ministry said, adding that Rubio responded that he would continue playing necessary roles and encourage relevant U.S. agencies to follow through.

Cho also explained South Korea’s efforts to implement bilateral tariff agreements and fulfill its investment commitments to the United States, calling for continued cooperation at the diplomatic level to ensure smooth communication and consultations between the two countries’ trade authorities.

The two leaders agreed to work to maintain stability while expanding positive momentum through the faithful implementation of security-related agreements.

On North Korea, the two sides agreed to maintain close communication and coordination. Cho outlined Seoul’s efforts to ease inter-Korean tensions and rebuild trust, urging South Korea and the United States to continue jointly sending messages in support of dialogue to encourage Pyongyang’s return to talks.

Rubio was quoted as expressing appreciation for South Korea’s efforts to reduce regional tensions and promote cooperation.

A general view of a U.S. State Department sign outside the building in Washington on July 11, 2025 [REUTERS/YONHAP]

The U.S. Department of State appeared to reflect a similar stance in a separate press release issued after the bilateral talks. The U.S. Department of State said the ministers discussed ways to advance the South Korea-U.S. alliance through forward-looking agendas, grounded in the spirit of the two summits held between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington and Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, last year.

The department said in particular that “the two leaders agreed to continue to work closely on civil nuclear power, nuclear-powered submarines, shipbuilding and increasing [South Korean] investments to rebuild critical U.S. industries.”

The State Department also noted that the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and again underscored the importance of trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan in maintaining “regional stability and a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

During the meeting, Rubio also expressed appreciation for South Korea’s leadership role in building “secure, resilient and diversified” supply chains for critical minerals, according to the department.

However, the press release did not mention whether the two ministers discussed President Trump’s pledge last month to reinstate reciprocal tariffs on South Korea.

U.S. President Donald Trump is seen during an event in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on Feb. 2. [EPA/YONHAP]

On Jan. 26, Trump threatened to raise tariffs on South Korean automobiles, lumber and pharmaceuticals — as well as country-specific tariffs — from 15 percent to 25 percent, citing delays in the passage of a special law on U.S. investment in the South Korean National Assembly.

Ahead of his departure for the United States, Cho said that agreements reached between the two governments were being pursued through legislation in accordance with National Assembly procedures, adding that he would explain the situation to the U.S. side and seek its understanding.

This has fueled speculation that Cho used his meeting with Rubio to brief him on the legislative process and request the withdrawal of the planned tariff hike.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM HYOUNG-GU [[email protected]]