South Korea's new envoy on the North Korean nuclear program had his first telephone conversations with his American and Japanese counterparts since taking office, the foreign ministry here said Friday.

Lee Do-hoon, the special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, talked to US Special Representative for North Korea Policy Joseph Yun on the phone Friday, two days after a similar phone call with his Japanese counterpart Kenji Kanasugi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. 

"Since taking office, Special Representative Lee has been assessing the latest developments on the Korean Peninsula and discussing ways to cooperate on a peaceful resolution of the North Korean issue (with his counterparts), as well as exchanging greetings," the ministry added.

Lee is currently pushing to meet in person with the top negotiators in the six-party talks for denuclearizing North Korea, including the US, Japan, China, and Russia, the details of which are under discussion with respective countries, it also noted.

In Seoul, Lee has also met with the Seoul-based ambassadors from the US, Japan and the European Union so far, and is planning to see the ambassadors from Russia and China from Friday through the 10-day Chuseok holiday. (Yonhap)