Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul at the Munich Security Conference. This meeting followed a productive phone call between the two officials on Secretary Rubio's second day in office. The spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, provided details about the meeting.

During their discussion, Secretary Rubio emphasized his commitment to maintaining strong defense and economic ties with South Korea. He highlighted efforts to enhance collaboration in sectors such as shipbuilding, semiconductors, and energy. Specifically, he mentioned the potential for increased exportation of American liquified natural gas.

The conversation also covered economic cooperation aligned with President Trump's agenda. This includes closer alignment on critical and emerging technologies and joint business initiatives.

Both leaders expressed concerns over China's actions in the South China Sea and discussed strategies to deter aggression from North Korea (DPRK). Secretary Rubio reiterated America's commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea while expressing openness to dialogue under the Trump administration.

Furthermore, Secretary Rubio expressed confidence in ROK Acting President Choi Sang-mok and affirmed the strength of the U.S.-ROK Alliance.