South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is traveling to Atlanta for Group of 20 (G20) talks and an expected discussion with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as Seoul prepares to lead the group in 2028.
Cho left for the United States on Thursday and is due to stay in Atlanta until Monday, Nov. 2, The Korea Herald reported. The two-day foreign ministers’ meeting is set for Oct. 30-31, with Rubio as host.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said ministers will consider ways to address geopolitical crises and challenges affecting energy, food and supply networks. It said Seoul plans to coordinate with other G20 members to sustain work on global issues when South Korea assumes the group’s presidency in 2028.
The Korea Herald reported that Cho and Rubio may discuss regional issues, including Kim Jong-un’s recent China visit and whether Pyongyang and Washington might resume dialogue. The G20 leaders’ summit in Miami is due to follow on Dec. 14-15, with President Donald J. Trump as host, according to the U.S. State Department.
The Korea Herald also reported continuing differences between Seoul and Washington over how to carry out last year’s summit commitments, exchanges of intelligence on North Korea and South Korea’s effort to regain wartime operational control from the United States. The outlet reported that Seoul wants faster consultations with Washington on summit-related security matters, including the nuclear-powered submarine issue, uranium enrichment and reprocessing spent fuel.
Visa cases involving two South Korean lawmakers could also arise during the visit, The Korea Herald reported. Cho told reporters before leaving, “The visa issue has nothing to do with South Korea-US relations.” He called visa delays and denials unwelcome and said he would ask Washington to process lawmakers’ applications faster.
The Korea Herald reported that a decision was still pending on Rep. Jung Chung-rae’s visa application earlier in October. Rep. Jin Sung-joon said Wednesday that his U.S. visa application had been rejected. Cho is scheduled to stay in Atlanta through Nov. 2.
