South Korea and U.S. Foreign Ministers Share Positions on Deployment to the Strait of Hormuz at Summit

A senior government official said on the 18th that, during the ROKU.S. foreign ministers' meeting held in Washington, D.C., he explained the South Korean government's position regarding the deployment to the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. side said it understood this and conveyed its intention to maintain close communication, adding that there were no specific requests made to South Korea during the meeting. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met for about 50 minutes at the State Department building to discuss the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and ways for South Korea and the U.S. to cooperate. Minister Cho emphasized that South Korea, too, would make a substantive contribution alongside the United States and the international community to restore freedom of navigation. During the same visit, Minister Cho also discussed alliance issues such as the transfer of wartime operational control and extended deterrence. The government explained that both sides agreed in principle to conclude the transfer of wartime operational control as soon as possible, but did not separately address the specific timing.