Munich: South Korea's foreign ministry announced on Sunday that South Korea Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have agreed in bilateral discussions held in Munich, Germany, to bolster cooperation on North Korea-related issues under the administration of US President Donald Trump.

According to Qatar News Agency, the ministry released a statement noting that "the two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea, and agreed to closely cooperate in the formulation and implementation of North Korea policies in the future." The statement also highlighted shared concerns over military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, with both ministers agreeing to continue monitoring the situation.

The discussions extended to economic matters, where the South Korean foreign minister advocated for mutually beneficial solutions concerning customs duties and expressed a commitment to resolving these issues through close consultations with the US. In response, the US Secretary of State conveyed readiness to boost cooperation with Seoul in areas such as shipbuilding and energy.

The talks, held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, marked the first meeting between the two ministers since Marco Rubio assumed office in January. Rubio reiterated the US commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea, emphasizing Seoul's strategic role as a US ally in the region.

Furthermore, Cho and Rubio engaged in a trilateral meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. During this meeting, they reinforced their commitment to North Korea's denuclearization, warned against any provocations by North Korea, and emphasized the continuation of pressure through strengthened international sanctions.

On economic cooperation, the ministers agreed on the importance of enhancing economic relations among the three countries, including increasing US liquefied natural gas exports to South Korea. The meeting took place at a pivotal time as South Korea seeks to maintain stability in its relations with the Trump administration amidst ongoing tensions over North Korean threats and international economic issues.