Why was South Korea’s first U.S. investment project announcement delayed?

The announcement was reportedly postponed until next week after a related briefing to the National Assembly was delayed. Seoul and Washington had originally expected to announce the project on Friday.

What did South Korea say about Hormuz before the talks with the U.S.?

In a press conference, President Lee Jae Myung said there would be no troop dispatch that could involve Seoul in an overseas conflict. He said Korea still needs to protect its citizens and national interests in the strait.

Top S. Korean, US diplomats discuss investment, Hormuz, N. Korea

Q: What did Cho Hyun and Marco Rubio discuss in Washington?

They discussed South Korea’s planned investment in the United States, possible efforts to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, and diplomacy toward North Korea. The meeting was their first bilateral talk since February.

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Summary

South Korea and the United States held talks in Washington on Friday on Seoul’s planned U.S. investment, possible involvement in securing the Strait of Hormuz, and North Korea diplomacy. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met for their first bilateral talks since February. The discussion came as Seoul and Washington were still preparing to announce South Korea’s first investment project under a $350 billion commitment. The announcement was reportedly postponed until next week after a National Assembly briefing delay.

Key Facts

The talks took place at the State Department in Washington and were the first bilateral meeting between Cho Hyun and Marco Rubio since February.
South Korea has pledged to invest $350 billion in the United States under last year’s bilateral trade agreement.
The first investment project under that agreement was initially expected to be announced on Friday, but it was reportedly postponed until next week.
A related briefing to the National Assembly was delayed, which pushed back the planned announcement.
The two sides were also expected to discuss cooperation on North Korea as U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to resume summitry with Kim Jong-un.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 19, 2026 12:25 am KST

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, left, poses with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of their talks held on the sidelines of a series of ministerial meetings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Manila, July 22. Yonhap

WASHINGTON — The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States held talks in Washington on Friday, as the two countries have been in talks over the Asian country's planned investment in the U.S., its potential efforts to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and diplomacy toward North Korea.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met at the State Department for their first bilateral talks since February, as the allies face various issues, including how Seoul will contribute to ongoing efforts to restore free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

In a press conference hours ahead of their talks, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said that there will be no troop dispatch that might result in Seoul's involvement in an overseas conflict, but underscored the need for Korea to protect its citizens and national interests in the strait.

During the meeting, Cho and Rubio were also expected to discuss South Korea's commitment to investing $350 billion in the U.S. as part of last year's bilateral trade agreement.

Seoul and Washington were initially expected to announce South Korea's first investment project under the trade agreement on Friday (Korea time). But the announcement has reportedly been postponed until next week after a related briefing to the National Assembly was delayed.

The top diplomats could also discuss cooperation over North Korea-related issues as U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to resume summitry with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

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