The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States agreed to continue close cooperation on civil nuclear power, nuclear-powered submarines and shipbuilding during their talks in Washington on Tuesday, the State Department said.
South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also reaffirmed their commitment to the “complete” denuclearization of North Korea, according to Tommy Pigott, the department’s principal deputy spokesperson.
Cho and Rubio held their talks at the department as Seoul is stepping up diplomatic efforts to address US President Donald Trump’s recent threat to raise “reciprocal” tariffs, and auto, lumber and pharmaceutical levies on South Korea to 25 percent from 15 percent.
“Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Cho discussed ways to advance the US-ROK Alliance, centered on a forward-looking agenda in the spirit of President Trump and ROK President Lee Jae Myung’s summits in Washington and Gyeongju,” Pigott said.
