Senior officials from South Korea and Kyrgyzstan have discussed their countries' cooperation to bring North Korea to the negotiating table during their meeting, South Korea's foreign ministry said Wednesday.

The meeting between Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam and Deputy Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan Dinara Kemelova was held in the Central Asian country on Tuesday. Lim visited Kyrgyzstan to mark the 25th anniversary of the countries' diplomatic relationship.

Lim proposed to Kemelova that the two countries work closely together to impose sanctions in order to bring North Korea to negotiate its nuclear disarmament, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Lim also expressed appreciation of the Kyrgyzstani government's support for Seoul's North Korea policy.

In the meeting, the South Korean official also lauded the remarkable progress the two countries have made in their political, economic, social and cultural relations since they formally established diplomatic ties in 1992. He also stressed the South Korean government's policy commitment to further expand its relations with Central Asian countries including Kyrgyzstan.

Kemelova appreciated South Korea's assistance for Kyrgyzstan's democratization as well as economic and social development and expressed hopes for closer cooperation in public administration and e-government fields.

The Kyrgyzstani deputy minister also called for increased collaboration in personnel exchange, economy, trade, culture and education as well as in regional and international issues.

During the visit, Lim also paid a courtesy visit to First Vice Prime Minister Tolkunbek Abdygulov and met with the community of South Korean residents and Kyrgyzstani people with Korean ancestry, known as Koryoin, according to the ministry.

It said the latest visit marks the first trip to the Central Asian country by a South Korean vice foreign minister-level official.

From Tuesday to Friday, Lim is visiting the country and Tajikistan to mark the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relationship and to step up collaboration with the Central Asian region. (Yonhap)