"No Agreement on Cheonghae Unit Deployment or First U.S. Investment"... ROK-U.S. Foreign Ministers' Meeting Ends

[Financial News] Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz in Washington, D.C., on the 18th (local time). However, no specific agreement appears to have been reached on the deployment of the combat unit, the Cheonghae Unit, to the Strait of Hormuz or on the first investment in the United States, both of which had drawn attention.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Rubio explained the recent situation in the Middle East, including Iran, as well as U.S. efforts to restore peace and stability in the region, and encouraged South Korea to join those efforts. Cho, in response, explained the South Korean government's willingness to make a practical contribution to restoring free passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The two sides agreed to maintain close communication. The South Korean government is considering sending non-combat personnel to the Strait of Hormuz.
Lee Jae Myung made the remarks at a press conference on the 18th. The Cheonghae Unit, a combat force near the Strait of Hormuz, will not be deployed to the Strait.
The two foreign ministers also exchanged views broadly on △ROK-U.S. relations △issues concerning the Korean Peninsula △regional and global affairs.
The two ministers reaffirmed their firm commitment to the ironclad ROK-U.S. Alliance and agreed to work together to further strengthen the alliance, a key pillar for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific.
The two ministers also agreed to work toward a successful outcome in consultations on strategic investment projects in the United States currently underway between the two countries. They further agreed to maintain communication to ensure the faithful implementation of key agreements reached by the two leaders, including the ROK-U.S. summit Joint Fact Sheet (JFS).
The two ministers shared their assessment of the current situation on the Korean Peninsula and agreed to continue working to achieve denuclearization, peace and stability on the peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy. Cho said the South Korean government would actively support the resumption of North Korea-U.S. dialogue as a party directly involved in peace on the Korean Peninsula and as a pace-setter. The two ministers agreed to maintain close communication and coordination on policies toward North Korea, including North Korea-U.S. dialogue.
The meeting was held about three and a half weeks after the two ministers spoke by phone on August 24. They agreed to maintain frequent communication to further build positive momentum in bilateral relations and ensure the smooth progress of cooperation in various areas between the two countries. 
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