South Korea and US vow close cooperation on North Korea

Washington: South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met on Monday (Aug 24), and Seoul reported they agreed to maintain close communication and cooperation on addressing North Korea's nuclear issue. The US State Department released a brief statement on the call, which followed a period of tension between the allies.

President Donald Trump recently announced a reduction in joint military drills and expressed skepticism about North Korea, while praising North Korea's nuclear arsenal and downplaying Seoul's role in Iran's denuclearization. The State Department said Rubio and Cho discussed various issues in the US-ROK alliance. South Korea's Foreign Ministry did not explicitly state whether they reaffirmed their commitment to North Korea's denuclearization, despite emphasizing the importance of collaboration on the North Korean nuclear issue.

South Korea and the US agreed to continue close communication and cooperation for peace on the Korean Peninsula and resolving North Korea's nuclear issue while maintaining a robust combined defense posture. Cho expressed hope that Trump's recent message to North Korea would lead to resumed dialogue and peace on the peninsula. Analysts are concerned that Trump's unpredictability could strain alliances that have maintained peace in Asia.