TOKYO (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, Kang had a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. During the phone call, the Russian diplomat congratulated his South Korean counterpart with her recent appointment and expressed hope that bilateral contacts would become more active in the near future.
"[Kang] stressed the aspiration of the new government for practically developing a strategic partnership between Russia and South Korea," the ministry said in a statement.
According to the statement, the South Korean minister expressed hope that Moscow would support the efforts of Seoul aimed at denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and would increase cooperation on the issue in the future.
On June 18, Kang was appointed to head the Foreign Ministry in the cabinet of Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon, who assumed office on May 31.
