SEOUL, First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun held phone talks with the new U.S. deputy secretary of state Thursday and discussed ways to bolster the alliance, the foreign ministry said. In his first talks with Kurt Campbell, Kim addressed various global and regional issues, including North Korea and their trilateral cooperation with Japan. Kim also voiced hope for close communication between the two sides to further advance their alliance and congratulated Campbell on his appointment. In their meeting, Campbell highly evaluated President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to the United States and the trilateral Camp David summit among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, calling it a historic achievement as the allies commemorated their 70th anniversary last year. The two sides agreed to strengthen efforts to dissuade North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, and to respond sternly to growing military cooperation between the North and Russia. Campbell served as the National Security Council coordinator for In do-Pacific affairs before assuming the State Department's No. 2 post. Source: Yonhap News Agency