South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a phone call on Monday, agreeing to maintain close coordination on North Korea and other key issues. The conversation came after US President Donald Trump ordered the allies to curtail their annual military exercise with South Korea, citing cost and an "inappropriate" signal to Pyongyang. According to Seoul's Foreign Ministry, Cho emphasized his government's commitment to a phased approach towards denuclearization, which differs from Washington's stance. The two diplomats also discussed the Middle East situation, where tensions between the US and Iran have strained relations with South Korea.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-25,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
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Story summary
On August 25, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a phone call about coordinating on issues including North Korea. They agreed to maintain close communication and coordination for peace on the peninsula and resolving North Korea's nuclear issue, while also maintaining their combined defense posture. This conversation came after US President Donald Trump ordered a reduction in annual military exercises with South Korea, citing cost and signaling concerns towards Pyongyang. During the call, Cho said his government would work to ensure Trump's recent message leads to resuming North Korea-US dialogue and peace on the peninsula. Trump also stated he plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year and claimed that North Korea possesses 57 "very powerful" nuclear weapons**.
Written for “North Korean Diplomatic Efforts” on 2026-08-31,
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Leaning score withheld for article 2251: score contradicts its own evidence · logged 2026-08-27
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged to maintain close coordination on North Korea and other key issues in a phone call late Monday, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said, amid signs of strain between the allies over military exercises, Iran and trade.
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Ministry → pledge → exercises
The conversation came after U.S. President Donald Trump last week abruptly ordered the allies to curtail their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise, citing its cost and saying the drills sent an "inappropriate and hostile" signal to Pyongyang.
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drills → come → Pyongyang
Cho and Rubio "agreed to continue close communication and coordination between the two countries for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue, while maintaining a solid South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture," Seoul's Foreign Ministry said in a readout.
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Ministry → agree → readout
Cho said the South Korean government would "do its utmost to ensure that President Trump's recent message leads to the resumption of North Korea-U.S. dialogue and peace on the Korean Peninsula."
The U.S. president said he expects to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year and claimed that Pyongyang possesses 57 "very powerful" nuclear weapons.
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Pyongyang → say → weapons
The Foreign Ministry readout did not explicitly mention denuclearization, which has long been an official goal of both Seoul and Washington.
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which → mention → Seoul
A ministry spokesman said Tuesday, however, that the issue was discussed during the call.
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issue → say → call
"South Korea and the United States have consistently maintained the goals of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and denuclearization," spokesman Park Doo-soon said at a regular briefing.
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soon → maintain → briefing
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has not made denuclearization a prerequisite for dialogue, instead advocating a phased approach beginning with a freeze on North Korea's nuclear development while pursuing reduced tensions and peaceful coexistence.
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denuclearization → make → tensions
Trump's renewed push for U.S.-North Korea talks has prompted concerns among South Korean opposition politicians and analysts that Seoul could be sidelined in negotiations, potentially leading to a deal at odds with South Korean security interests.
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Seoul → renew → interests
Park said Seoul and Washington were coordinating "at all levels" on North Korea and other alliance issues.
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Seoul → say → Korea
"Our government is actively working, as both a pacemaker and a party directly concerned with peace on the Korean Peninsula, to resume North Korea-U.S. dialogue and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula through close coordination between South Korea and the United States," he said.
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he → work → Korea
Cho and Rubio also discussed the situation in the Middle East, another recent source of friction in the alliance.
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Cho → discuss → alliance
Trump criticized South Korea last week for what he claimed was a refusal to assist U.S. efforts in the Strait of Hormuz amid Washington's ongoing conflict with Iran.
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he → criticize → Iran
Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Rubio "explained the current situation in the Middle East," while Cho expressed South Korea's "commitment to making a substantive contribution to restoring free passage in the Strait of Hormuz."
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Cho → say → Hormuz
The two diplomats also discussed tariffs, investment and security cooperation and agreed to seek "mutually beneficial" outcomes on outstanding issues, according to the ministry.
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diplomats → discuss → ministry
The U.S. State Department offered a considerably shorter account of Monday's call, saying only that the two diplomats discussed a "range of issues" involving the alliance.
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diplomats → offer → alliance
"The Secretary noted the need for the two countries to remain in close coordination on matters that are integral to the alliance," spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
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Pigott → note → statement
Cho and Rubio agreed to meet in person "in the near future" for further discussions, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said.
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Ministry → agree → discussions
