National Security Office Director Suh Hoon held phone talks with his U.S. counterpart White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and discussed bilateral cooperation including peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula.

In a written briefing, presidential spokesperson Kang Min-seok said that Suh congratulated Sullivan on his appointment to the post during the 40 minute conservation held Saturday morning.

Kang said the two sides reaffirmed their steadfast alliance and agreed that active cooperation is necessary on Korean Peninsula, regional and global affairs, such as the pandemic, economic recovery, climate change and cyber concerns.

Sullivan reportedly described the South Korea-U.S. alliance as a linchpin for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and said that Washington will closely cooperate on various issues with Seoul, which he called an ally that shares common values of democracy and the rule of law.