Seoul: South Korea’s National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik discussed bilateral relations, North Korea-related issues, trilateral cooperation with Japan and other issues in a phone call with his new US counterpart Mike Waltz. The two sides agreed during the call to meet in Washington at an early date for more in-depth discussions, a statement from the South Korean presidential office said.
According to Qatar News Agency, Shin expressed confidence that the South Korea-US alliance would further strengthen under the administration of US President Donald Trump. Waltz, for his part, expressed his expectations for an expansion of bilateral cooperation in various areas. This marked the first high-level contact between the South Korean National Security Office and a top US security official since the second Trump administration took office in January.
The call came as Seoul continues to be in a period of political uncertainty following now-impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol’s botched martial law bid in early December, 2024.