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South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) on July 7 (local time) on the sidelines of the NATO Summit. / Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun departs for Manila, the Philippines, on the afternoon of July 21 to attend ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings. Minister Cho's visit is expected to focus on follow-up discussions regarding the strategic export alliance on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) through meetings with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Cho will hold a trilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on the afternoon of July 22 (local time). Coming just two weeks after their previous meeting on the sidelines of the NATO Summit on July 7, the talks will address regional and global security cooperation, economic security, and issues concerning the Korean Peninsula.

Follow-up measures to implement the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on SMR deployment—signed during the NATO Summit—are expected to take center stage. With Russia and China holding dominant positions in the conventional nuclear market, detailed discussions among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan are deemed crucial to securing early market leadership in SMRs. Several Indo-Pacific nations have reportedly expressed interest following the signing of the agreement.

The security situation on the Korean Peninsula will also be a major focus. Amid growing alignment among North Korea, China, and Russia, the three ministers are anticipated to discuss trilateral coordination measures.

During a regular press briefing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Park Il stated, "The Korean Peninsula issue remains a key priority. The ministers will naturally share intelligence and exchange views on responding effectively to the deepening exchanges between North Korea and Russia, as well as North Korea and China."

Spokesperson Park added, "The government will continue diplomatic efforts to ensure that exchanges between North Korea, Russia, and China contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and encourage North Korea's return to dialogue."

With tensions escalating once again in the Middle East, relevant regional issues are also expected to be brought to the negotiating table.

Apart from the trilateral meeting, attention is focused on whether a bilateral meeting between South Korea and the U.S. will take place. A Foreign Ministry official noted that while efforts are underway, a bilateral meeting remains unconfirmed due to Secretary Rubio's tight schedule with ASEAN counterparts.

Minister Cho is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from Australia, Thailand, New Zealand, Brunei, and the Philippines during his trip. He is set to return to South Korea after concluding his ASEAN-related diplomatic schedule on July 23.

                                                                                                            Mok Yong-jae