Cho Hyun: 'Told US Ambassador Fastening Seat Belt in Turbulence Means No Problem'

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on October 27 that he spoke with U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel regarding her remarks about "turbulence" in South Korea-U.S. relations.

When asked about his stance on Ambassador Steel's "turbulence" remark by Representative Jeong Jeom-sik of the People Power Party during a comprehensive audit by the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Cho stated, "Just yesterday, I had breakfast with Ambassador Steel and brought up that word, turbulence."

Cho said, "I told her that when an airplane passes through turbulence, there is no problem as long as you fasten your seat belt tightly, and (Ambassador Steel) agreed with me."

Earlier, Ambassador Steel said on October 21 that "South Korea and the United States are going through a kind of turbulence."

Regarding remarks made yesterday during the parliamentary audit of the Ministry of National Defense by Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul—who, in response to People Power Party Representative Seong Il-jong's argument that even the U.S. is struggling in a war with Iran, asked, "Can we trust such a U.S. military if a war breaks out with North Korea?"—Cho noted that U.S. extended deterrence is a matter that has been consistently reaffirmed by the U.S. administration and Congress.

He added, "I do not know with what intention the defense minister made such remarks, but fundamentally there is no problem with military cooperation or similar matters between South Korea and the United States," emphasizing that "while there may be differences of opinion in the South Korea-U.S. relationship, claims of a breakdown made by some are completely absurd."
 
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.