US, South Korea deepen coordination on North Korea nuclear issue

The United States and South Korea have agreed to maintain close coordination over North Korea’s nuclear program while supporting efforts to bring stability and dialogue back to the Korean Peninsula, South Korean officials said Tuesday.

Seoul looks to turn Trump message into dialogue

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun discussed the North Korea issue with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a phone call on Monday. Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said the two sides intend to work closely on resolving the nuclear issue while preserving the combined defense posture of the two allies.

The ministry did not say whether the ministers had reaffirmed a specific commitment to North Korea’s denuclearization. The omission comes as Washington and Seoul continue to assess how to approach Pyongyang amid renewed discussion of possible high-level diplomacy.

Trump-Kim meeting raises diplomatic prospects

Cho told Rubio that Seoul would make efforts to help create conditions for renewed negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang. His comments followed US President Donald Trump’s statement last week that he expects to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Trump is pursuing another meeting with Kim, potentially during a future trip to Asia. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, in November has been cited as a possible setting for such an encounter.

Tariffs and security also feature in talks

Beyond North Korea, Rubio and Cho discussed ways to advance US-South Korea relations through agreements that could deliver benefits for both countries. Their agenda included tariffs, an investment agreement and broader security cooperation, reflecting the economic and strategic dimensions of the bilateral alliance.

Rubio also briefed his South Korean counterpart on Washington’s efforts to promote peace and stability in the Middle East. The discussions underline the expanding range of issues facing the US-South Korea alliance as Seoul seeks to balance security concerns on the Korean Peninsula with wider regional and economic priorities.