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Key Points

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is making an atypical diplomatic move by visiting Japan before heading to the US. He aims to strengthen both bilateral ties with Tokyo and trilateral cooperation involving Washington. Cho plans to discuss forward-looking strategies with Japan while supporting ongoing US-South Korea tariff talks. His visit highlights Seoul's balancing act amid regional security and trade pressures.

Key Points: South Korea FM Cho Visits Japan First to Boost Trilateral US Ties

  • Cho's Japan visit precedes US trip to enhance trilateral cooperation
  • First South Korean FM to prioritize Japan over US in inaugural trip
  • Talks with Japan's Iwaya to focus on forward-looking bilateral ties
  • Cho to support critical US-South Korea tariff negotiations
3 min read

South Korea: FM Cho says his Japan visit preceding US trip can help 'upgrade' 3-way cooperation

South Korean FM Cho prioritizes Japan visit before US trip, aiming to strengthen bilateral and trilateral cooperation amid trade and security challenges.

"I believe it will help upgrade not only our bilateral relations with Japan, but also trilateral cooperation with the US and Japan. – Cho Hyun"

Seoul, July 29

The South Korean Foreign Minister, Cho Hyun said Tuesday he believes his visit to Japan before going to the United States will help "upgrade" not only the bilateral ties with Tokyo, but also trilateral cooperation among the three countries.

Cho made the remark ahead of his departure for Tokyo, where he was scheduled to meet one-on-one with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya for the first time since taking office early last week.

The foreign ministry announced Monday that Cho will visit Japan before flying to Washington later this week for talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Yonhap news agency reported.

"The reason I am going to Japan first is because I believe it will help upgrade not only our bilateral relations with Japan, but also trilateral cooperation with the US and Japan," Cho told reporters at Gimpo International Airport ahead of his departure.

"I don't think there has ever been a case where a foreign minister's first trip abroad after taking office was to Japan," he said.

Cho's decision to stop in Japan before the US is seen as atypical, as newly appointed foreign ministers have generally chosen Washington as their first stop for diplomatic talks.

With Iwaya, Cho said he will discuss ways the two sides can work together to advance the bilateral relations in a "forward-looking" manner, as well as issues related to the situation in Northeast Asia and beyond.

"Discussions could include long-running historical issues," Cho said. "It is crucial to take a long-term approach and identify mutually beneficial issues for discussion, for a future-oriented Korea-Japan relationship."

Cho also said he plans to convey a message to Japan regarding President Lee Jae Myung's "strong commitment" to continuing "shuttle diplomacy" of regular visits by leaders, restored by the two countries' previous leaders.

In Washington, Cho said he plans to have broad discussions with Rubio on the alliance and other shared issues, including the notion of "modernisation of alliance" as recently mentioned by the US administration.

The concept is largely seen as reflecting US calls for its allies to shoulder more of the defence burden and its focus on addressing an assertive China.

Cho's two-nation swing also comes as South Korea's tariff negotiations with the US are at a critical juncture this week amid the looming August 1 deadline set by the Donald Trump administration. Unless a trade deal is reached, South Korean goods will be subject to a 25 per cent US reciprocal tariff and sectoral duties.

"I plan to provide as much support as possible (for the tariff negotiations)," Cho said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The historical tensions between Japan and Korea remind me of some of our regional challenges. Hope they can resolve differences like we try to do with our neighbors. Regional cooperation is key for stability and economic growth.
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Aryan P
Smart diplomatic move! Visiting Japan first shows South Korea's independent foreign policy. India should also maintain this balance in our relations with major powers. The US-China tensions are affecting everyone's foreign policy calculations these days.
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Sarah B
The tariff negotiations mentioned here are concerning. As someone working in exports, I know how damaging such trade wars can be. Hope they reach a fair agreement that doesn't hurt South Korean businesses and workers.
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Karthik V
The "modernisation of alliance" concept sounds like code for more military spending. India faces similar pressures in defense partnerships. Countries must protect their sovereignty while maintaining good relations. Tricky balance!
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Nisha Z
While the diplomatic moves are interesting, I wish the article gave more context about the historical issues between Japan and Korea. As Indians, we know how past conflicts can shadow present relations. Hope they find a way forward.
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Michael C
The shuttle diplomacy mentioned here reminds me of how PM Modi has maintained personal diplomacy with world leaders. Face-to-face meetings do make a difference in international relations. Hope this yields positive results

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