Cho tae-yul made the remarks in an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Johannesburg on Saturday after attending a gathering of foreign ministers of the Group of 20 (G20) nations. \”South Korea has sufficient strategic value in the international community, and this remains unchanged even under the acting presidency,\” Cho said. Cho stressed the importance of South Korea strengthening ties with other middle power countries, citing growing global uncertainties following the launch of the second Donald Trump administration. He also held joint talks with his counterparts from Australia, Mexico, Indonesia and Turkey, countries that are part of the so-called MIKTA group created in 2013 to enhance cooperation on issues of common interest. \”We must now expand our sights beyond the four powers near the Korean Peninsula (the United States, China, Japan and Russia),\” Cho said, referring to the Netherlands, Australia and Canada as what he called \”middle power countries\” He said he met with a number of US lawmakers tasked with foreign affairs during his visit to Munich earlier this month. \”I achieved results beyond expectations,\” he said.
