By Diplomacy Journal Lee Gil-ju Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun visited the Bombardier assembly plant at Toronto Pearson International Airport on November 13, during his visit to Canada for the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Minister Cho noted Bombardier's significant contribution to enhancing the ROK's defense capabilities, highlighting that the company's "Global 6500" will serve as a common platform for special mission aircraft, including the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C), scheduled to be introduced into the ROK Air Force. The minister also noted his pleasure to witness
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Gil-ju South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held talks with Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente on November 11 on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, addressing Mexico’s proposed tariff increases, the resumption of Korea–Mexico FTA negotiations, and challenges faced by Korean companies operating in Mexico. Minister Cho welcomed the Mexican government’s recent decision to suspend its planned tariff hikes and expressed hope that Korea would be excluded should Mexico decide to move forward with the increases in the future. He emphasized that
By Diplomacy Journal Lee Gil-ju Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, visiting Canada to attend the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, held his first bilateral meeting with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on November 11 (local time). Minister Cho congratulated Minister Cooper on her appointment (September 2025) and expressed hope to deepen practical cooperation between the two countries across various fields, including economy and trade, defense and security, and science and technology. He also expressed hope that the ongoing Korea-UK FTA improvement negotiations would be expedited, thereby further s
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, currently visiting Cambodia, paid a courtesy call on Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Nov. 10 and subsequently held a luncheon meeting with Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn. This visit marks the first by a South Korean Foreign Minister to Cambodia in three years and was arranged as a follow-up to the Korea-Cambodia Summit held in Malaysia on October 27. During his meeting with Prime Minister Hun Manet, Minister Cho highly commended the swift establishment of the 'Korea-Cambodia Joint Task Force for Koreans' (abbreviated as the ‘Joint
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held his first telephone conversation with Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen on November 5, exchanging views on bilateral relations and the international situation. Minister Cho noted the strengthening of substantive cooperation between South Korea and Finland in areas such as the defense industry and key minerals, and expressed his hope that they would deepen cooperation across all sectors through active high-level exchanges. Minister Valtonen congratulated Minister Cho on his inauguration and praised South Korea's succ
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun had a meeting with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, who visited the Republic of Korea to attend the APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM) on Oct. 30. The two ministers exchanged views on bilateral relations, economic cooperation, cooperation in defense and the defense industry, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and major regional developments. Minister Cho welcomed Minister Wong’s visit to Korea and noted that the Korean government highly values the continued development of ROK-Australia relations. He expresse
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun, while in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, accompanying President Lee Ja-myung on his visit to the country for the 2025 ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, held his second bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Oct. 26 since taking office. The two ministers exchanged views on high-level exchanges, practical cooperation and regional affairs. Minister Cho underscored that the two ministers met once again just two months after his bilateral visit to India in August, thereby continuing close high
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun met with Lao Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane on October 27, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations, countering online scams, and other issues of mutual interest, including Korean Peninsula issues. The two ministers congratulated South Korea and Laos on the 30th anniversary of the reestablishment of diplomatic ties and agreed to actively pursue cooperation in future industries, including the establishment of key mineral supply chains, digital transformation
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with Radmila Shekerinska, Deputy Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), who is visiting South Korea, and exchanged views on ways to deepen the South Korea-NATO partnership on Oct. 20, 2025. Minister Cho welcomed Deputy Secretary General Shekerinska's visit and noted that, following last month's visit by NATO Military Committee Chairman Dragone, this visit demonstrates the active high-level cooperation between South Korea and NATO in both defense and diplomatic spheres. Minister Cho stated that Korea will
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held talks with Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard on October 16. Minister Stenergard is visiting South Korea on October 15 and 16. The two ministers exchanged views on practical cooperation and regional affairs. Minister Cho noted that high-level exchanges between the two countries have been revitalized since the launch of the new administration, including the visit of the Crown Princess Couple of Sweden and the subsequent meeting between the foreign ministers. He expressed hope that these high-level exchanges would lead t
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held a meeting with Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand at the United Nations Headquarters on September 25. The two sides exchanged views on overall bilateral relations, including high-level exchanges, future substantive cooperation plans, and regional and international situations. Minister Cho expressed his delight at the ongoing high-level exchanges between the two countries following the inauguration of the new governments of Korea and Canada this year, following the bilateral summit held on the sidelines of the G7 Summit
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun held a telephone conversation with Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Varsen Aghabekian Shahin on September 18, during which the two sides exchanged views on Korea-Palestine relations and regional affairs in the Middle East. This call also served as a courtesy exchange marking Minister Cho’s inauguration. Minister Aghabekian congratulated Minister Cho on his assumption of office and proposed maintaining close communication to deepen bilateral cooperation. Minister Cho likewise congratulated Minister Aghabe
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held talks with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, and Development Cooperation Maxime Prévot, who is visiting South Korea from September 17-18, 2025, on September 18. They exchanged views on high-level exchanges, practical cooperation, and regional and international affairs. Minister Cho noted that this meeting was his first bilateral meeting with a European country since taking office and that it was particularly timely given that it marked the first bilateral visit by a Belgian Foreign Mini
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held talks and a dinner with Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, in Beijing, China, on September 17. They exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, including South Korea-China relations and issues on the Korean Peninsula. Minister Cho emphasized, “Today's meeting, as the first South Korea-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting since the inauguration of our new government, holds significance for the development of bilateral relations.” He expressed hope that, taking
By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations (DPO) at the United Nations, who is visiting South Korea, on September 15. They exchanged views on ways to strengthen South Korea-UN cooperation and the future development direction of UN Peacekeeping Operations (PKO). Minister Cho emphasized Korea's commitment to continue contributing to enhancing the adaptability and effectiveness of UN peacekeeping operations as a major troop- and finance-contributing nation. He also called for further strengthening cooperation