South Korea’s top diplomat Cho Hyun flew out for a three-day visit to Washington on Thursday for talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio that are expected to focus on bilateral economic and security arrangements, North Korea and the raging Middle East conflict, Anadolu reports.

Cho is scheduled to hold talks with Rubio on Friday US time, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported, citing the country’s Foreign Ministry.

“We will have in-depth discussions on various pending issues between the two nations, as well as consultations on issues concerning the Korean Peninsula, regional affairs and the international situation,” Cho told reporters before departing from Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul.