ANKARA

South Korea’s president on Thursday called US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Seoul a sign of deterrence against North Korea, local media said.

President Yoon Suk-yeol spoke with Pelosi over the phone but did not meet her in person as he is on summer vacation, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Pelosi arrived in South Korea last night from Taiwan.

“This visit by Pelosi's delegation will become a sign of deterrence between South Korea and the United States against North Korea,” the agency quoted Yoon as telling Pelosi during their 40-minute conversation.

Earlier, Pelosi met with her South Korean counterpart Kim Jin-pyo in Seoul. Both leaders agreed to support their governments’ efforts to denuclearize North Korea and expressed concerns over the North's escalating threats.

"The two sides expressed concern over the grave situation in which North Korea's level of threat is heightening," Yonhap quoted Kim as saying during a joint press statement.

"Based on a powerful and extended deterrence against North Korea that our public can recognize, we agree to support the two governments' efforts for denuclearization and peace through international cooperation and diplomatic dialogues," he added.

Pelosi praised South Korea for its role in supporting Ukraine during Russia’s war against the country.

Her visit to Taiwan this week escalated tension in the region as the Chinese military launched exercises and live firing in the waters and airspace around the island.

During her two-day stay in South Korea, she will also visit the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid