Sign in Subscribe
Foreign ministers

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun to Visit Japan and the US for Bilateral Talks

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is set to visit Japan and the United States this week for crucial talks with his counterparts, against the backdrop of strained trade relations between Seoul and Washington. Cho's meetings with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio come as South Korea's tariff negotiations with the US are at a critical juncture, with a looming deadline on August 1. The talks in Tokyo and Washington aim to exchange opinions on the US tariffs, address shared bilateral issues, and reaffirm commitment to advancing bilateral ties and trilateral cooperation.

Key Takeaways:

  • South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will visit Japan and the US for bilateral talks, marking his first such meetings with Japanese and US counterparts since taking office.
  • Cho will meet Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on Tuesday and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, with a working dinner planned for Tokyo.
  • The talks come as South Korea's tariff negotiations with the US are at a critical juncture, with a looming deadline on August 1, and a 25% reciprocal tariff and sectoral duties possible if a trade deal is not reached.
  • Japan reached a trade agreement with the US just last week, with the US imposing a 15% reciprocal rate on Japanese products, 10 percentage points lower than initially announced.
  • The deal includes Japan's pledge to invest US$550 billion to build and expand core American industries.
  • Cho and Iwaya are expected to discuss shared bilateral issues, including North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, and reaffirm their commitment to advancing bilateral ties and trilateral cooperation with the US.
  • The visit marks an atypical choice for Cho, as newly appointed foreign ministers usually choose Washington as their first stop for diplomatic talks.

Statistics:

  • The US will impose a 20% reciprocal tariff on Japanese products if a trade agreement is not reached on July 31, 10 percentage points higher than initially announced (Source: Yonhap News Agency).
  • Japan has pledged to invest US$550 billion to build and expand core American industries (Source: Yonhap News Agency).
  • The average annual trade volume between South Korea and the US is around US$140 billion (Source: US Census Bureau).
  • South Korea's export-dependent economy has been racing to strike an agreement to reduce steep tariffs and minimize the impact on its export earnings (Source: Yonhap News Agency).

Sources:

  • Yonhap News Agency (July 28, 2025)
  • Yonhap News Agency (July 25, 2025)
  • US Census Bureau

Read more