[Anchor]

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has held his second bilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The two sides discussed a wide range of issues, including the implementation of strategic investments in the United States and navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, though subtle differences in tone were detected regarding the pace and expression of investments.

Correspondent Lee Hanseok reports from Washington.

[Reporter]

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat down together again after seven months.

The biggest pending issue was consultations on the $350 billion strategic investment in the United States.

[Cho Hyun / Foreign Minister: I asked that we work to ensure these consultations bear good fruit, and requested that Secretary Rubio play a role in this process.]

Minister Cho subsequently stated that he received a response from Secretary Rubio that the State Department would also make efforts.

However, immediately after the meeting, the U.S. State Department issued a press release strongly pressing for the swift implementation of investment pledges, alongside cooperation on semiconductor supply chains.

With the announcement of the first investment project delayed due to the postponement of a report to the National Assembly at home, Minister Cho emphasized smooth consultations, while the United States is interpreted as having demanded a fast-track approach.

Discussions on security issues also continued.

Minister Cho conveyed South Korea's intent to make practical contributions toward restoring navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and Secretary Rubio likewise repeatedly emphasized the importance of cooperation for freedom of navigation.

However, as they drew a line against the possibility of troop deployment, the focus is expected to be placed on non-military support measures.

Ahead of the meeting, Minister Cho met with key figures in the U.S. Congress and asked for unwavering bipartisan support for the South Korea-U.S. alliance even after the November midterm elections.

Meanwhile, the Integrated Defense Dialogue, a high-level consultative body between South Korean and U.S. defense authorities, issued a joint statement announcing that the two countries have pledged to strengthen cooperation to accelerate the wartime operational control transition in response to changes in the security environment.

(Camera Journalist: Oh Jung-shik | Video Editor: Choi Jin-hwa)