Foreign Minister Cho holds phone talks with newly appointed U.S. State Secretary Rubio

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul held talks on the phone with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier this morning

during which the two top diplomats agreed to maintain close coordination in response to North Korea's nuclear weapons ambitions.

According to the Foreign Ministry here Minister Cho also shared hopes for greater advancements in the bilateral alliance under the new U.S. administration.

Rubio for his part reportedly invited his Korean counterpart to the U.S. for more talks on cooperation.

Both officials also highlighted the importance of the trilateral security partnership including Japan.