Foreign Minister Cho Hyun speaks during a press conference in Seoul on Thursday. (Yonhap)


Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Thursday that US President Donald Trump’s remarks on a potential tariff hike targeting South Korea do not amount to a rupture of an existing trade agreement, descri 오션릴게임 bing them instead as part of ongoing discussions over its implementation.
“There is a (Korea-US summit) joint fact sheet in place, and I understand that some in the US believed its implement 릴게임골드몽 ation might be delayed and directly raised this with President Trump, which is likely why (Trump’s message) came out as it did,” Cho said.
Cho made the remarks when asked whether Trump’s ref 릴게임야마토 erence to a possible tariff hike from 15 percent to 25 percent would constitute a breakdown of the deal, during a forum organized by the Gwanhun Club, a Seoul-based association of senior Korean journa 바다이야기부활 lists.
“It would be difficult to characterize this as a breakdown of the agreement,” Cho said, adding that the matter could be addressed as Seoul proceeds with necessary steps and clearly ex 사아다쿨 plains its position to the US side.
On Monday, Trump said in a Truth Social post that he would raise tariffs on South Korean automobiles, lumber and pharmaceuticals, as well as other “reciprocal” tariffs, from 15 percent to 25 percent, claiming the move was “because the Korean Legislature hasn’t enacted our Historic Trade Agreement, which is their prerogative.”
Cho pushed back against criticism that Seoul had failed to anticipate Washington’s shifting posture, saying South Korea would need to adapt to President Trump’s sudden social media announcements.
“The decision-making structure in the US and the way decisions are communicated have changed,” he said, adding that such developments were difficult to fully anticipate in advance.
At the same time, Cho cautioned against overreaction, stressing that Seoul should avoid weakening its own negotiating position and would continue closely monitoring even subtle changes within the US administration.
Cho also dismissed speculation that Washington’s commitment to North Korea’s denuclearization or extended deterrence for South Korea had weakened, noting that the absence of these topics from the recently released 2026 US National Defense Strategy ? a supporting document to the National Security Strategy published last December ? does not signal a policy shift.
“The National Defense Strategy and the National Security Strategy serve different purposes,” Cho said, adding that the US side has repeatedly confirmed there is no change in its stance on extended deterrence.
Cho noted that Seoul and Washington have made progress in expanding cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines and related fuel issues as follow-up measures to the joint fact sheet, including the establishment of a joint interagency consultative body on nuclear cooperation.
“Through high-level exchanges with the US, we will continue to pursue tangible progress at speed,” he said, adding that the mechanism would help create conditions for advancing peaceful and commercial nuclear capabilities.
In a broader assessment of the Lee Jae Myung administration’s diplomatic performance since its inauguration in June last year, Cho said South Korea completed reciprocal visits early this year with the leaders of the US, China and Japan, following last year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.
He described the exchanges as a key step toward stabilizing diplomacy among major powers amid growing global uncertainty.
Cho stressed the need to strengthen trilateral cooperation among China, Japan and South Korea, framing the three countries’ relations as part of a broader strategic space in Northeast Asia rather than a series of isolated bilateral ties.
“Relations between South Korea, China and Japan are not lines drawn between two countries, but points located on a shared regional plane called Northeast Asia,” Cho said, underscoring the importance of seeking common ground and sustaining dialogue.
On relations with China, Cho said Seoul would work to develop the strategic cooperative partnership in line with changing regional dynamics, with people’s livelihoods and peace serving as the two central pillars of bilateral ties.
Regarding Japan, he said the government aims to deepen cooperation through “shuttle diplomacy” ? a term used by the two countries since the early 2000s to describe frequent reciprocal visits and working-level talks between their leaders ? while expanding the scope of engagement.
“Differences are clear, but we must pursue dialogue rather than confrontation, and linkage rather than disconnection,” Cho said, adding that such efforts would help create and preserve strategic space amid intensifying competition among major powers.
Cho also reiterated the government’s commitment to pursuing membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a major free-trade pact led by Japan that includes 12 Asia-Pacific economies, calling it essential to expanding South Korea’s economic horizons and securing long-term growth.
On North Korea, Cho said diplomatic efforts must continue without pause to halt Pyongyang’s advancing nuclear and missile capabilities and pursue a phased approach toward reduction and eventual dismantlement.
He also cited recent cases involving the detention of South Korean nationals overseas and scam-related crimes in Southeast Asia as reminders of the need to strengthen protections for Koreans abroad.
“In an era of overlapping crises, we must build a more robust system for protecting overseas nationals,” Cho said, adding that the government would pursue people-centered and business-focused diplomacy that supports livelihoods and economic vitality.