A senior South Korean official revealed on Thursday that South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol spoke with Donald Trump, the U.S. president-elect. They discussed maintaining close ties in all fields including security and economy.

The official said that Yoon and Trump both shared concern over Pyongyang’s continued military provocation, including its ballistic missile launches and the deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine.

Kim Tae-hyo said that Yoon's Deputy National Security Advisor, Kim Taehyo, agreed with the idea of meeting as soon as they can set a time and place.

Kim, who briefed journalists on the 12-minute call, said that Trump had noted South Korea's successes in shipbuilding and vessel repair and expressed his desire to discuss more about the ways South Korea can assist the American shipbuilding industries.

Kim stated that Yoon had congratulated Trump for his first presidential win on the slogan "Make America Great again" and that the success of three-way cooperation among South Korea, Japan, and the United States is due to the foundations laid by Trump's presidency. (Writing and editing by Ed Davies).

(source: Reuters)