Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul had a working breakfast with new United States Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell in Washington D.C. on February 29, local time. The two sides discussed the ROK-U.S. Alliance and ROK-U.S.-Japan cooperation; response to North Korean provocations; and cooperation on economic security and cutting-edge technologies, among others.

Foreign Minister Cho suggested further advancing the ROK-U.S. Alliance as well as ROK-U.S.-Japan cooperation this year which marks the beginning of new 70 years for the Alliance. He went on to ask Deputy Secretary Campbell, who had served as Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs on the National Security Council, to play an active role to that end.

Deputy Secretary Campbell stated that as Deputy Secretary of State, he attaches great significance to the ROK-U.S. Alliance and ROK-U.S.-Japan cooperation, adding that he will seek to step up trilateral cooperation through frequent communication with his ROK and Japanese counterparts.

The two sides exchanged in-depth views on how to respond jointly to North Korean threats and provocations, and agreed to send out a message* as a result of their meeting amid continued close coordination.

Deputy Secretary Campbell voiced expectation that the ROK will play a bigger role and make more contributions on the international stage in line with its international standing and capabilities, adding that the U.S. side stands ready to render active support in that regard.

The two sides exchanged views on ways to bolster cooperation on economic security, information, and artificial intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technologies, which are directly related to the livelihood of the peoples of the two countries. Foreign Minister Cho called for the U.S. government’s attention to ensure that Korean companies, which have been largely expanding investments in the U.S. since the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the CHIPS and Science Act, receive commensurate benefits.

* Both sides commended the continued cooperation under full solidarity between the ROK and the U.S. to address and respond to the threat and provocations posed by North Korea, and had further related discussions. Following the Foreign Ministers’ meeting on the previous day, both sides expressed once again deep concerns over North Korea's declaration of inter-Korean relations as relations between two belligerent states and any potential unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the West Sea. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to closely coordinate efforts to deter any North Korean provocations.