Will South Korea's FM nominee Cho actively respond to Trump's tariff demands and modernize the alliance?

Seoul, July 17 (NationPress) South Korea's Foreign Minister nominee Cho Hyun pledged on Thursday to actively address U.S. requests for increased tariffs and to focus on upgrading the bilateral alliance through close collaboration with the Trump administration, aiming for mutual benefits for both nations.

During his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, Cho emphasized his commitment to paving the way for renewed dialogue with North Korea while persistently striving for the denuclearization of the North.

"I will proactively engage with critical matters, including tariffs and the modernization of our alliance. We will seek enhanced collaboration across various domains such as the economy, military, security, and cutting-edge science and technology," Cho stated in his introductory statements.

His comments come as South Korea seeks an agreement with the Trump administration to obtain exemptions or relief from the 25 percent reciprocal and sectoral tariffs set to take effect on August 1, as announced by Trump's office.

The term "modernizing the alliance" has been frequently mentioned by the Trump administration, urging allies and partners to increase their defense expenditures and assume a larger portion of the defense responsibilities, according to reports from Yonhap news agency.

"The ministry will maintain close communication with the Trump administration and further fortify the Korea-U.S. alliance for the benefit of both nations," he added.

In alignment with the Lee Jae Myung government's stance, Cho expressed his intention to foster dialogue with North Korea in close coordination with the United States.

"We will advocate for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, aiming to establish peace in the region through a phased and pragmatic approach," Cho remarked.

He also emphasized strengthening ties with Washington and trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan, while encouraging constructive engagements from China and Russia.

Cho committed to collaborating closely with China and Japan to organize a three-way summit among their leaders this year.

On a bilateral level, he aims to align with Tokyo to tackle shared geopolitical challenges while patiently addressing unresolved wartime history issues stemming from Japan's colonial rule of Korea from 1910-45.

Cho stated he would enhance communication with China to cultivate ties in a more mature manner, yet he would respond firmly to sovereignty matters, such as the dispute over Chinese steel structures in the overlapping maritime zone in the Yellow Sea.

As the government firmly opposes military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, Cho committed to collaborating with the international community to ensure their partnership does not jeopardize peace on the Korean Peninsula.