What did Marco Rubio say about U.S. visa cases involving South Korean lawmakers?

Rubio said the United States and South Korea would work through the cases bilaterally. He referred to one individual’s behavior from perhaps a couple of decades earlier, while Jin Sung-joon said he had since received a visa after reporting that his application was rejected.

Trump open to talks with N. Korean leader but no meeting scheduled: Rubio

Q: What did Marco Rubio say about Donald Trump meeting Kim Jong-un?

Rubio said Trump would be open to talks if North Korea and Kim were prepared to discuss issues of concern to the United States and its allies, including South Korea. He added that Trump does not regard meeting with someone as a concession.

Q: What did South Korea, the United States and Japan reaffirm in their Atlanta talks?

During Friday’s trilateral talks, the three countries’ top diplomats reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea. The talks took place before Rubio’s Saturday press conference following the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting.

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Summary

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday in Atlanta that President Donald Trump remains open to talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un if Pyongyang is willing to discuss issues of concern to the United States and its allies, including South Korea. Rubio said no meeting had been scheduled. He said Trump does not view meeting with Kim as a concession. Rubio also said Washington and Seoul would address U.S. visa issues involving South Korean lawmakers bilaterally.

Key Facts

Trump and Kim held three meetings during Trump’s first presidential term.
Rubio spoke after a Group of 20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta.
Rubio’s comments followed trilateral talks in Atlanta on Friday with South Korean and Japanese counterparts, who reaffirmed their commitment to North Korea’s complete denuclearization.
Rubio said one visa case involved an individual’s behavior from perhaps a couple of decades ago.
Rep. Jin Sung-joon said he had received a U.S. visa for a trip to the U.S. Pacific Command, days after saying his application had been rejected; his case followed one involving Rep. Jung Chung-rae earlier in the month.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 1, 2026 7:11 am KST

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks at the conclusion of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting at Loews Atlanta Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Oct. 31. EPA-Yonhap

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump remains open to talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un if Pyongyang is willing to discuss issues of concern to Washington and its allies, but no meeting has been scheduled, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday.

Rubio made the remarks during a press conference following a Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta.

"I think the president's perspective is, if North Korea and Kim Jong-un is prepared to talk with the United States about issues that are of concern to us and of concern to our allies, like South Korea, he would be open to doing it," Rubio said.

"Nothing has been scheduled. I do not have anything to announce in regards to that today," he added.

His remarks came amid persistent speculations over the possibility of renewed diplomacy between Trump and Kim, who held three meetings during Trump's first presidential term.

The comments also followed trilateral talks among Rubio and his South Korean and Japanese counterparts in Atlanta on Friday, during which the three top diplomats reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea.

"The president doesn't view talks, doesn't view meeting with someone as a concession." Rubio said. "I know in traditional foreign policy, meeting with someone or inviting someone to something is viewed as a concession that somehow legitimizes them."

Asked of recent U.S. visa refusal or delay cases involving South Korean legislators, Rubio said the two countries will "work through" the issue on a bilateral basis.

"I think there was one particular visa individual, that there was an issue about regarding behavior, perhaps a couple decades ago. But we'll work through that at a bilateral basis," the secretary said.

Rep. Jin Sung-joon of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party (DP) said he has been issued a U.S. visa for a trip to the U.S. Pacific Command, days after he said his application was rejected. Jin's initial visa rejection followed a similar case involving Rep. Jung Chung-rae, former chairman of the DP, earlier this month.

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