U.S. says it looks forward to working with S. Korea to advance 'ironclad' alliance

Over in the U.S.

Washington's top diplomat has said it looks forward to collaborating with the Lee administration to advance an 'ironclad' alliance between South Korea and the United States.

In a statement on Wednesday local time, the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated South Korea on the 80th anniversary of its liberation from Japan's colonial rule this Friday.

Calling South Korea an "indispensable ally," Rubio said Washington will continue to expand prosperity and confront the most pressing global security challenges by working together with Seoul.