South Korea's acting president holds first phone call with US President Trump to discuss strengthening alliance, economic cooperation, and North Korea's nuclear issue

South Korean Prime Minister Han Deok-soo, who is acting as the president, held his first telephone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump since taking office on the 8th, according to the Prime Minister's Office. The two leaders spoke on a strong note.
They discussed maintaining and developing the strong US-ROK alliance, economic cooperation, and North Korea's nuclear and missile issues. According to the Prime Minister's Office, this is the first telephone conversation between the US and South Korean leaders since President Trump took office for his second term.
The phone call took place 78 days after President Trump took office on January 20 (US time).
It was the first time in about five months since Trump (then president-elect) spoke by phone with former President Yoon Seok-yeol on November 7 last year. The two discussed cooperation between Japan, the United States and South Korea, the US-South Korea alliance, and North Korea.
They discussed the allegations of US military assistance to Ukraine and shipbuilding cooperation between the two countries. According to the Prime Minister's Office, Han spoke about President Trump's landslide victory in last year's presidential election and his "Make America Great Again" plan.
He praised the leadership that has set forth the vision of "Make America Great Again." He also expressed his gratitude for the White House's announcement of cooperation with the Korean government under the acting powers system.
Han then expressed his hope for further development of the U.S.-ROK alliance, which is the linchpin of South Korea's diplomacy and security. In response, the two leaders reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the U.S.-ROK military alliance.
In the economic field, Han expressed his intention to strengthen cooperation with the United States in three areas: shipbuilding, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and correcting trade imbalances.
The two sides agreed to continue discussions at ministerial level on economic cooperation, including trade rebalancing, with a view to building a mutually beneficial relationship.
Han also acknowledged that North Korea's increasingly sophisticated nuclear and missile capabilities pose a serious security threat, and said,
"We hope to work closely together to send a clear message to North Korea that the determination of the United States, South Korea, and the international community to achieve the denuclearization of Korea far exceeds North Korea's intention to possess nuclear weapons," he said.
The two leaders confirmed their intention to continue to work closely together on future policies toward North Korea. They shared the view that cooperation among Japan, the United States and the ROK is essential for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.