U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with his South Korean counterpart, Cho Hyun, on Friday to discuss a number of issues, including bilateral relations and the situation in the Indo-Pacific region.

The U.S. Department of State stated in a release that Rubio and Cho "highlighted the strength of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, which has been a cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and across the Indo-Pacific for more than seven decades."

The statement added that the two secretaries "discussed ways to enhance the U.S.-Republic of Korea alliance based on a forward-looking agenda that strengthens deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, promotes collective burden-sharing, and contributes to revitalizing American manufacturing while restoring fairness and reciprocity to our trade relations."

Both sides "emphasized the importance of trilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea."

These talks come weeks after the United States, South Korea, and Japan held joint military exercises off the coast of Jeju Island in South Korea.