(LEAD) FM Cho calls for U.S. to consider alliance in implementing tariff measures

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By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul has called for the United States to take alliance and other considerations into account in implementing its "reciprocal" tariff measures, including its trilateral partnership with South Korea and Japan, and investments in America.

Cho made the call during his trilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, in Brussels on Thursday (local time), following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of a 25 percent tariff for South Korea and 24 percent for Japan, among others.

"Cho expressed deep concern over the reciprocal tariffs announced by the U.S. and called for the U.S. to take into account the implications for its allies, the importance of close South Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation, economic collaboration and South Korea's track record of investment in the U.S., when implementing the tariff measures," the foreign ministry said in a release.

Following the talks, Cho told a Yonhap News reporter in Brussels, "There will be something to do," suggesting the possibility of negotiations, when asked about the tariffs.

The three-way talks took place on the margins of the foreign ministers' meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), just less than two months after their previous gathering in Munich in mid-February.

South Korea was invited as one of NATO's four Indo-Pacific partners, including Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

In a joint statement issued after the talks, the top diplomats called for an end to actions that "destabilize" security around the Taiwan Strait, in what appears to be a veiled warning to China amid increasing military exercises in the area.

"They expressed concern about provocative actions, particularly the recent military drills around Taiwan, and called for an end to further destabilizing actions," the joint statement read.

The statement did not specify what those provocative actions were, but it appears to be a veiled warning to China after its recent military drills in the Taiwan Strait earlier this week.

The Chinese military said Wednesday it had conducted drills in the area for a second day. Taiwan has accused China of sending its naval vessels and warplanes regularly toward the island.

The U.S. and its allies, while not recognizing Taiwan as an independent state, have opposed any attempts to change the status quo of the self-governed island by force, a position that was reaffirmed in Thursday's joint statement.

The statement also highlighted the commitment to strengthening industry cooperation, specifically mentioning U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) and shipbuilding -- the sectors that U.S. President Donald Trump has identified as areas for collaboration with South Korea and Japan.

The three sides also underscored the need to accelerate joint efforts to "develop and deploy advanced civil nuclear reactors to meet growing energy needs" and to ensure maritime security "through a modern maritime fleet, a robust shipbuilding industry."

They also committed to support South Korea's successful hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation later this year.

Regarding North Korea, the top diplomats expressed "serious concern" with its malicious cyber activities, including the theft of nearly US$1.5 billion worth of cryptocurrency from a single exchange service in February.

They called on the international community to take actions to prevent the North from converting the stolen cryptocurrency into hard cash.

Welcoming continued talks among the U.S., Russia and Ukraine over the war, the three sides "encourage progress towards a comprehensive ceasefire."

They also expressed their deep condolences for the loss of lives and damage caused by the wildfires in South Korea and Japan.

In NATO's Indo-Pacific partners sessions, Cho urged the need for efforts to stop North Korea from thinking that it can "decouple" security between the U.S. and its allies by securing advanced military technologies amid its deepening ties with Russia.

Cho also pledged South Korea will provide an additional $100 million humanitarian aid to war-torn Ukraine, voicing support for efforts toward a "swift end" to the war.

While in Brussels, Cho also held brief separate bilateral talks with his counterparts from the Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden and Ukraine.

elly@yna.co.kr
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