U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work met with South Korean Vice Defense Minister Hwang In-moo and discussed ongoing cooperation over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

The meeting took place at the Pentagon on Tuesday as Hwang has been on a visit to Washington for the inaugural Defense Technology Strategy and Cooperation Group high-level talks, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Gordon Trowbridge said in a statement.

"The two discussed the continuing cooperation between the United States and the ROK to address North Korea's nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programs. Deputy Secretary Work reaffirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to defend the ROK," Trowbridge said.

"Deputy Secretary Work and Vice Minister Hwang discussed the inaugural Defense Technology Strategy and Cooperation Group high-level talks, and agreed that this dialogue would strengthen the U.S.-ROK alliance," he said. (Yonhap)