South Korean and U.S. national security advisers conferred on issues relating to their alliance and North Korea. 

Presidential Office Spokesperson Kang Min-seok said in a briefing on Tuesday that Suh Hoon and his U.S. counterpart Jake Sullivan held phone discussions earlier in the day and shared their assessments of the situation on the Korean Peninsula and Washington’s review of its North Korea policies.

The two sides agreed to continue their close coordination to achieve denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and lasting peace in the region. 

They also reached a consensus to strengthen their alliance based on mutually shared values while discussing cooperation on COVID-19, as well as regional and global issues. 

The two officials expressed great appreciation for the frequent and close communication between the two countries, including those between their respective national security councils, and also agreed to push for swift in-person talks once the pandemic recedes.

It is their first phone discussion since the launch of the Joe Biden administration in the U.S. last month.