South Korea’s top diplomat to meet Rubio amid U.S. investment discussions

Seoul – South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is set to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, amid ongoing discussions over planned South Korean investments in the United States and security concerns. Cho's visit to Washington will span from Thursday to Saturday, as reported by the foreign ministry on Wednesday. During the visit, the two diplomats will discuss a variety of matters, including the South Korean-U.S. relationship, issues related to the Korean Peninsula, and broader regional and global concerns.

The trip coincides with efforts by Seoul and Washington to finalize an agreement on the implementation of $350 billion in South Korean investments, as stipulated in a trade deal signed last year. Under the trade agreement, South Korea committed to making the investments in exchange for the U.S. capping tariffs on Korean imports at 15%.

South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan expressed optimism about reaching a final investment agreement with the U.S., hinting that the announcement could be made this week. However, the ministry cautioned that several issues remained unresolved.

In a move that has raised questions about the timing of any potential agreement, South Korean officials asked to postpone a briefing for a parliamentary committee regarding Seoul's U.S. investment plans. The postponement has left lawmakers wondering about the timeline for resolving the investment matter. Additionally, the visit comes amid discussions in South Korea about the potential deployment of its military forces to the Strait of Hormuz, following Trump's criticism of South Korea's perceived insufficiency in supporting the U.S.-led effort to secure the strait after the Iran war.

Seoul is considering various options, including military measures, to ensure freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway, while denying reports of an already-decided deployment.

The talks also appear likely to address the possibility of a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as Trump has been urging his aides to arrange such a meeting in the autumn. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is scheduled to hold a news conference on Friday, during which he is expected to address key issues such as the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing U.S. investment negotiations.