Cho Addresses Accusations of Legislative Stalling On February 6, 2026, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun‑woo told U.S. official Marco Rubio that Seoul is not purposefully slowing the parliamentary process required to approve a pending trade agreement [1]. He rejected any implication that the government is obstructing the legislation, emphasizing that the timeline follows normal procedural steps [1]. The remark was delivered during a bilateral meeting focused on broader economic cooperation [1].

Details of the February 6 Statement The Yonhap news release recorded the comment at 00:02:35 UTC and updated it at 00:03:08 UTC on the same day [1]. The statement was later cached by the agency on February 17, 2026, indicating continued relevance of the issue [1]. No additional officials were quoted, and the release contained no mention of specific legislative deadlines or pending votes [1].

Implications for Pending Trade Agreement The trade deal in question remains under parliamentary review, with both South Korean and U.S. stakeholders monitoring progress [1]. Cho’s denial aims to reassure U.S. partners that South Korea will not jeopardize the agreement through intentional delays [1]. Observers note that the clarification may reduce diplomatic friction ahead of the expected legislative vote later in the year [1].