President Lee speaks with U.S. President Obama, agrees to work closely over Kim's death

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed Monday to work closely together to cope with the aftermath of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, an official said.

In a telephone call around 2 p.m., the two leaders agreed that the two allies will keep a close watch over the communist North and cooperate closely to deal with the situation, presidential spokesman Park Jeong-ha said.