S. Korea, US maintaining 'very close' cooperation on all N. Korea-related issues: US envoy

South Korea and the United States are maintaining a "very close" partnership on all North Korea-related issues, acting U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Kevin Kim said Wednesday, as the allies are seeking a regular meeting on coordinating their policy on the North.

Kim made the remark after he met Jeong Yeon-doo, head of the office of strategy and intelligence at the foreign ministry, to discuss Seoul and Washington's policy on North Korea.

"The United States and Korea are closely coordinating on all issues, but it's very productive as always, and we have a very close partnership on all North Korea-related issues," Kim told reporters, when asked if the two diplomats discussed launching a task force on North Korea policy.

But Kim declined to comment when asked whether the U.S. is concerned about Lee's proposed policy goal to seek a "nuclear-free Korean Peninsula."

The allies are in talks to hold a regular meeting on coordinating their policy on North Korea as the Lee Jae Myung administration seeks to mend frayed ties with the North and resume inter-Korean talks.

Last month, Jeong was appointed to the vice-ministerial post responsible for intelligence and North Korean nuclear issues.