Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will travel to the Philippines next week to attend a series of ASEAN-related ministerial meetings.
The South Korean foreign ministry announced on July 14 that Cho plans a two-day visit starting July 22. He will co-chair the 29th ASEAN–Republic of Korea Foreign Ministers' Meeting alongside Thailand and hold bilateral talks with counterparts from the Philippines and other nations.
Cho is also scheduled to join the ASEAN Plus Three foreign ministers' meeting with Japan and China, the ASEAN Regional Forum foreign ministers' meeting, and the East Asia Summit foreign ministers' meeting. Ministry spokesperson Park Il said the talks aim to advance the comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN and explore cooperation in artificial intelligence and cultural industries.
Under the ASEAN Plus Three framework, Cho will discuss regional supply chain resilience in energy and food security. He will also seek continued ASEAN support for Seoul's policy on the Korean Peninsula. Attention remains on whether North Korea will send a delegation to the ARF, with indications it may skip the forum again this year.