By Oh Seok-min

MANILA, July 23 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has called for faster progress in discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on security issues, including Seoul's efforts to develop nuclear-powered submarines and secure rights for uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing, a senior Seoul official said Thursday.

Cho conveyed the message during brief pull-aside talks with Rubio held before and after their trilateral meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on the sidelines of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-related meetings in Manila the previous day, according to the official.

During the talks, Cho highlighted recent progress in economic cooperation between Seoul and Washington, including the opening of the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Center in Washington this week.

Cho also called for advancing discussions on security issues, including revisions to the Korea-U.S. nuclear energy agreement, known as the 123 Agreement, to allow uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing, as well as Seoul's push to develop nuclear-powered submarines, according to the official.

The two sides had planned to hold another round of security consultations in July following their inaugural meeting last month, but a detailed schedule has yet to be announced amid Washington's focus on the Middle East conflict and other priorities.

The consultations, along with Seoul's investment commitments in the United States and bilateral shipbuilding cooperation, are among the key items outlined in a joint fact sheet adopted after last year's summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Cho also briefly met with U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker in Manila ahead of the trilateral talks and delivered a similar message, according to the official.

"Rubio and Hooker expressed understanding of Cho's remarks and shared the view that the two sides should continue close consultations on the pending issues," the official said.

The meetings took place amid tensions between the two allies over Seoul's regulatory actions involving U.S.-listed e-commerce company Coupang following a massive data leak.

Some U.S. lawmakers and officials have criticized Seoul's regulatory moves, alleging that they were discriminatory and unfairly targeted U.S. businesses, while the South Korean government has maintained that the measures were conducted lawfully and applied fairly without discrimination.

"There are several issues that require further coordination. We should sort them out as soon as possible and continue strengthening communication at various levels to bring important matters between the two countries toward agreement," Cho was quoted as saying by the official.

graceoh@yna.co.kr

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