Cho Hyun: “We Will Join International Cooperation on Troop Deployment, but Prioritize Citizens’ Safety” (Update)

Foreign Ministers of Korea and the United States to Meet in Washington on the 18th
First In-Person Talks Since Outbreak of the Middle East War

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stated on September 17 that, regarding the deployment of forces to the Strait of Hormuz, "Korea will participate in international cooperation, but we maintain the position that the safety of our citizens and the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz are our primary concerns."

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is departing on September 17, 2026, from Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport on Yeongjongdo Island, Incheon, for the South Korea-U.S. Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Photo by Yonhap News.

Speaking with reporters at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport on the morning of September 17 before departing for Washington, D.C., Foreign Minister Cho was asked about the Korean government's position on the U.S. request for military deployment. He responded as above, which is interpreted as effectively moving away from the option of a 'unilateral deployment' requested by the United States. However, Minister Cho added, "Our position has not yet been finalized, and we are reviewing it by taking all various factors into consideration."

In addition, Minister Cho recalled his phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on September 11, saying, "We have already conveyed our basic position to Minister Araghchi, and the Iranian side has expressed its understanding of this."

Regarding the sudden postponement of the announcement of the "First U.S.-bound Investment Project," which was initially expected on September 18, Minister Cho said, "It's not so much due to differences between Korea and the United States, but rather to further clarify certain domestic procedural matters," and added, "Of course, this issue will also be raised in the process of reviewing the overall bilateral relationship during the upcoming South Korea-U.S. Foreign Ministers' Meeting." However, he emphasized, "We will explain clearly to the U.S. side what Korea can do, but on any issue that runs counter to our national interest or differs from our position, we will give detailed explanations and maintain a clear stance."

Minister Cho will hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, D.C. on September 18. This marks the first bilateral South Korea-U.S. foreign ministers' meeting since the United States launched military action against Iran in late February.

Minister Cho said, "We plan to have in-depth discussions on a variety of issues between South Korea and the United States, and also consult on matters related to the Korean Peninsula, as well as regional and international affairs." He added, "I will meet with members of the U.S. Congress and scholars from think tanks who are interested in Korean Peninsula issues, and afterward, I will attend the United Nations (UN) General Assembly." Regarding follow-up measures on the Joint Fact Sheet (JFS)—the joint explanatory document containing agreements between the heads of state of South Korea and the United States, such as nuclear-powered submarines and the South Korea-U.S. Nuclear Cooperation Agreement—Minister Cho stated, "Working-level discussions have been ongoing," and, "We will work toward moving forward on these matters as quickly as possible."

Regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated statements on social networking services (SNS) about pursuing North Korea-U.S. talks, Minister Cho commented, "If any breakthrough is made in North Korea-U.S. relations, it would be a welcome development for our government," adding, "I will listen to the developments and discuss them as appropriate."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.