Foreign Minister Cho Hyun answers a question from a lawmaker during parliamentary questioning of the government held at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Monday. (Yonhap)


Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Monday that the US nuclear umbrella over South Korea will remain intact even as Seoul and Washingt 백경릴게임 on continue discussions on transferring wartime operational control, seeking to allay concerns over potential shifts in the allies’ defense posture.
Speaking during the first day of parliame 바다신2다운로드 ntary questioning of the government at the National Assembly, Cho dismissed speculation that Washington could alter its extended deterrence commitment to South Korea as the allies move toward greater 릴게임뜻 defense autonomy for Seoul.
“There are concerns that if the US nuclear umbrella were to waver, South Korea would not know where to turn,” Cho said. “But the US has no intention of altering i 야마토통기계 ts nuclear umbrella.”
Under the bilateral alliance, the US provides extended deterrence to South Korea, including its so-called nuclear umbrella, as part of its commitment to defend the coun 골드몽릴게임 try against nuclear and missile threats from North Korea. The pledge has been repeatedly reaffirmed through joint summit statements and annual Security Consultative Meetings between the allies.
Cho stressed that South Korea’s strategic importance to Washington ensures the credibility of US extended deterrence, saying the commitment will remain firm not only in official documents and rhetoric but also in practical strategic terms.
Cho made the remarks in response to questions from lawmakers about potential changes in the US defense strategy on the Korean Peninsula amid evolving regional security dynamics and the ongoing OPCON transition.
He also rejected claims that President Lee Jae Myung’s recent reference to possible nuclear arms reduction talks amounts to acknowledging North Korea as a nuclear-weapon state.
“While it is a fact that North Korea possesses nuclear weapons, it is not recognized as a nuclear-weapon state under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,” Cho said, distinguishing Pyongyang’s de facto capabilities and its legal status under international norms.
Cho’s comments came as lawmakers pressed the government over broader alliance concerns, including Washington’s recent tariff pressure and its potential spillover into security cooperation.
Tariff tensions have raised worries in Seoul that friction over trade could affect follow-up discussions on key security initiatives, including South Korea’s bid to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and secure greater flexibility under the bilateral nuclear cooperation framework.
Cho confirmed that a US interagency negotiating team is expected to visit South Korea in February to discuss follow-up measures stemming from agreements between the two leaders, including nuclear-powered submarines and possible revisions to the Korea-US nuclear cooperation arrangement.
The planned visit, initially set for January, was delayed amid tariff-related tensions between the two sides. Diplomatic observers say progress on security cooperation has slowed as Washington presses Seoul to accelerate implementation of its $350 billion investment pledge and address non-tariff barriers.
At their second summit in November, US President Donald Trump indicated support for South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines, signaling a shift from earlier skepticism tied to proliferation concerns. While not a formal agreement, the remarks were seen as a positive signal for continued discussions under the alliance framework.
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, who also attended Monday’s session, said the government is reviewing the possibility of formally lifting the so-called May 24 measures ? unilateral sanctions imposed on North Korea in 2010 ? as part of efforts to rebuild inter-Korean trust.
Chung also called the recent approval of sanctions exemptions for humanitarian projects in North Korea by the United Nations Security Council “small but meaningful,” even as Pyongyang continues to refuse outside aid.
He said the exemptions carry significance in terms of timing, as Trump has repeatedly expressed willingness to engage in direct dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
“The approval, though small, is significant and could help create an atmosphere for the resumption of US-North Korea dialogue,” Chung said, adding that Seoul is keeping all diplomatic options open and strengthening strategic communication with neighboring countries. He also expressed hope that Trump’s planned visit to China in April could lead to broader geopolitical shifts in Northeast Asia.
Three days of parliamentary questioning of the government began Monday at the National Assembly, with lawmakers set to grill Cabinet officials over trade issues with the US and their spillover into key diplomatic and security issues.
The first day of questioning, focused on politics, diplomacy, unification and national security, comes as Seoul steps up diplomatic engagement with Washington following US President Donald Trump’s warning of a potential tariff hike on South Korean goods. Despite intensified outreach, recent high-level talks between the allies appear to have yielded little progress on trade disputes.
One of the key issues is Washington’s recent signals that it may raise tariffs on South Korean goods back to 25 percent from the current 15 percent, despite a Korea-US joint fact sheet agreement reached in November last year.
Foreign Minister Cho and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo's recent separate trips to Washington followed Trump's threat to raise "reciprocal" tariffs, citing delays in the legislative process needed to implement the investment pledged by Seoul under a bilateral trade deal. Under the agreement, South Korea committed to investing $350 billion in the United States in return for the US lowering tariffs to 15 percent.
Foreign Minister Cho and Unification Minister Chung were among six senior officials attending Monday’s session, alongside Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung.
The Assembly will continue parliamentary questioning on the economy Tuesday and on education, society and culture Wednesday, before holding a plenary session Thursday to process noncontroversial bills.