South Korean foreign minister Cho Tae-yul held the second ROK–Vietnam foreign ministers’ dialogue in Hanoi on Tuesday with his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son, reaffirming both sides’ commitment to deepening cooperation across economic, infrastructure and security sectors. The two ministers reviewed implementation of a joint action plan tied to their comprehensive strategic partnership and agreed to strengthen collaboration in areas including energy, nuclear power, high-speed rail, science and technology, labor and consular coordination, according to the foreign ministry.

Cho raised operational concerns on behalf of South Korean businesses in Vietnam, citing persistent difficulties with labor permits, licensing procedures and residency status. He emphasized the goal of reaching $150 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 and noted the contributions of some 10,000 Korean companies to Vietnam’s economy. Son pledged to resolve these issues and highlighted Vietnam’s March cabinet-level meeting with Korean firms as a sign of ongoing support. The two sides also discussed regional security, with Cho expressing concern over North Korea’s military ties with Russia and warning against any reward for Pyongyang in a potential Ukraine ceasefire.