Korean FM to depart for Philippines to attend ASEAN-related ministerial meetings

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun was set to depart for the Philippines on Tuesday to attend a series of meetings involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other partner nations, including the United States and China, his office said. The three-day visit through Thursday is expected to provide a chance for Seoul to reaffirm its commitment to strengthening cooperation with ASEAN and regional partners in energy, economic security and other areas amid multifaceted regional and global challenges. Seoul also seeks to use ASEAN-related meetings to garner support for its efforts to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula and encourage North Korea's return to dialogue. Cho will co-chair the Korea-ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting with Thailand on Wednesday to discuss ways to advance their comprehensive strategic partnership, focusing on cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), culture and joint efforts to combat online scam crimes, according to the foreign ministry. "Cho will convey the message that South Korea and ASEAN are indispensable partners to one another and should deepen