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SEOUL - US President-elect Barack Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak agreed Friday to work together to tackle North Korea's nuclear disarmament and the global financial turmoil, Lee's spokesman said.
Lee and Obama in a phone conversation also agreed that a stronger alliance between their countries would promote Asian peace and stability, the spokesman said.
The two expressed a desire to meet as soon as possible, raising speculation they may hold talks on the sidelines of the Group of 20 financial summit on November 15 in Washington.
Lee is already set to meet a group of Obama's foreign policy advisers the day before the summit.
"Obama emphasised the need to further strengthen the South Korea-US alliance and noted their closer relations will be a cornerstone for peace and stability in Asia," the South Korean presidential spokesman said.
"Obama went on to show his friendly feeling towards Korea, calling himself a great admirer of South Korea and its people."
The president-elect also expressed a fondness for Korean food and complimented Lee on his fluency in English during the 12-minute conversation.
"He said that bulgogi (barbecued beef) and kimchi are his favorite things to eat for lunch," according to Lee's spokesman.
The United States is Seoul's oldest ally and stations 28,500 troops in the country to protect it against any North Korean attack, yet the two have sometimes been at odds on how to handle the North.
Some commentators say Obama's stated willingness to talk to hostile leaders such as the North's Kim Jong-Il could disrupt six-nation nuclear disarmament talks unless properly handled.
There is also unease about Obama's criticism of a US-South Korea free trade agreement awaiting legislative ratification by both countries.
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan dismissed fears of policy rifts on North Korea.
"The two countries share the common goal of denuclearising North Korea and I don't expect to see any major problems in coordinating policies towards the North," Yu told reporters.
Yu said Seoul hopes that any US rapprochement with the North should keep pace with progress in inter-Korean dialogue. The North has cut almost all ties with the new conservative government in the South.
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