U.S. State Department "confident" S. Korea-U.S. ties will "thrive" under Lee Jae-myung administration

The United States says it's "confident" that relations between Seoul and Washington will continue to "thrive" under the new South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, who took office last week.

That's according to Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the State Department, during a press briefing on Tuesday local time.

She said the U.S. congratulates Lee on his election, expressing optimism, in response to a question about the new leader's approach to bilateral ties.

Lee has said he will initiate "pragmatic" diplomacy and regards the Seoul-Washington alliance as the foundation of Korea's foreign policy.

Following his first phone call with President Donald Trump last week, the two leaders are likely to hold a brief summit on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Canada starting on June 15.