S. Korean, US top diplomats agree to cooperate on N.K. threats, peace in Taiwan Strait, South China Sea

The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States agreed to work together to address North Korean threats and support peace in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea in their phone call Thursday, a State Department spokesperson said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held the first phone conversation with his new South Korean counterpart, Cho Tae-yul, since Cho assumed office this week to succeed Park Jin.

"Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Cho also agreed to continue working together to address the complex and evolving security challenges posed by the DPRK, as well as to support peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea," Matthew Miller said in a readout.

DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The mention of stability over the Taiwan Strait came as Taiwan is set to hold its presidential election Saturday at a time when China has renewed its hope for unification with the self-governing island democracy.

China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and hopes to achieve reunification, while the United States opposes any unilateral change to the status quo despite its "One China" policy.

Cho and Blinken shared concerns over the growing threats from North Korea, including the recent shelling near the western sea border in the Yellow Sea, according to a release by South Korea's foreign ministry.

The top two diplomats condemned North Korea's illicit development of nuclear weapons and missiles, as well as its expanding military cooperation with Russia. They agreed to work closely over the issues at the UN and other international levels.

Cho and Blinken also agreed to strengthen the effectiveness of the extended deterrence through such mechanisms established by both sides as the Nuclear Consultative Group and the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group.

Extended deterrence refers to the US commitment to mobilize all of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its ally.

In the phone call, Blinken also congratulated Cho on assuming the ministerial role and reaffirmed the "vital" importance of the "ironclad" South Korea-US alliance in promoting peace and security around the world, according to Miller.

The secretary also thanked Cho for Seoul's participation in Tuesday's joint statement condemning Russia's use of ballistic missiles from North Korea against Ukraine.

(Yonhap)