Over the past month or so, Seoul has been trying to establish ties with the new government in Washington by sending security and diplomatic officials to the US for talks with Trump's high-level aides.

The move came amid concerns about shifts in the bilateral alliance that have been spawned by a series of Trump's election-year remarks. His remarks highlighted general skepticism about America's security alliances with South Korea and other nations, and free trade deals.

Hwang also renewed his pledge to apply "across-the-board" pressure to the recalcitrant regime in Pyongyang to induce its denuclearization.

"(South Korea) will continue to induce North Korea's denuclearization through the framework of across-the-board sanctions on Pyongyang that has been established through cooperation between Seoul and Washington and with the international community," he said. (Yonhap)