South Korean foreign minister Cho Tae-yul met with ambassadors and chargés d’affaires from 17 Central and South American countries on Monday to discuss expanding cooperation. Cho highlighted the historical ties between South Korea and the region, noting the support provided by Central and South American nations during the Korean War and the recent establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba.

The meeting explored potential areas for increased collaboration, including defense, aerospace and electric and hydrogen vehicles. Cho expressed hope for further cooperation during the upcoming ROK-Central and South America Future Cooperation Forum in June and the G20 and APEC summit meetings in November.