South Korea's foreign minister and the newly appointed Japanese foreign minister had a telephone conversation Thursday, pledging to closely cooperate to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, reported South Korean national news agency Yonhap.

During the 15-minute conversation, Ban Ki-moon congratulated Japan's Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura, saying his appointment is expected to further boost the two countries' ties.

Ban also said he expects the two countries will work closely together for peace and stability in Northeast Asia based on a peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, Yonhap said

Machimura concurred, saying it is important for South Korea, Japan and the United States to closely cooperate in order to resolve the nuclear issue.

The new minister also briefed Ban on the outcome of Japan's recent working-level negotiations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on the issue of abduction of Japanese citizens.

Machimura was appointed to the post in a Cabinet reshuffle on Monday, replacing Yoriko Kawaguchi.

Source: Xinhua