Cho Tae-yeol: "We Will Accelerate Trilateral Cooperation Among Korea, the US, and Japan"

"North Korea Human Rights Issues, We Will Continue to Raise Our Voices"

Cho Tae-yeol, the nominee for Minister of Foreign Affairs, is entering the National Assembly for the confirmation hearing held on the morning of the 8th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Cho Tae-yeol, the nominee for Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated on the 8th that he will "promote Korea-US-Japan cooperation more deeply and with greater speed."

During his opening remarks at the confirmation hearing of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Cho said, "We will further strengthen the substance of the Korea-US alliance, expand its scope, and steadily continue the trend of improving Korea-Japan relations."

He emphasized, "By advancing the Korea-US-Japan cooperation institutionalized through the Camp David trilateral summit more deeply and swiftly, we will drive the maintenance of peace on the Korean Peninsula and the strengthening of a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region."

Regarding China, Cho stated, "We will build a healthy and mature relationship based on mutual respect, reciprocity, and shared interests."

His plan focuses on enhancing trust rather than the speed or scale of relationship development, and steadily promoting practical cooperative projects aimed at the future.

On the North Korean issue, he said, "We will make continuous efforts in cooperation with the international community to deter North Korea’s nuclear development intentions and help North Korea realize that denuclearization through dialogue and negotiation is the only way to survive," adding, "We will also continue to raise our voice on North Korean human rights issues on international platforms such as the United Nations."

Regarding relations with Russia, he explained, "The Korea-Russia relationship, which has become difficult due to the Ukraine war, will be stably managed based on principles and standards that align with our national interests and values."

He stressed, "This is a period of geopolitical transition where the international order is undergoing tectonic shifts," adding, "As the US-China strategic competition intensifies and the Ukraine war continues, the rules-based international order that has supported post-war peace and prosperity is being shaken, and the world is turning into a jungle dominated by the logic of power."

In particular, Cho said, "We have entered an era of economic and security convergence where diplomacy separated from either economy or security no longer works," and "In the face of global complex crises, diplomatic wisdom that integrates multiple fields is needed."

He continued, "In an unavoidable geopolitical environment surrounded by great powers and amid increasingly severe global crises, division of public opinion will directly harm the people," adding, "At least in diplomatic matters, national consensus and a bipartisan approach are urgently needed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.