Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon met with the governor of the US state of Missouri on Friday and discussed ways to bolster all-round cooperation between the two sides, Lee's office said.

Gov. Eric Greitens was in South Korea as part of an Asian trip that also included a visit to China from Sept. 24-27.

During Friday's meeting, Lee stressed the importance of the Korea-US alliance and expressed the hope that Missouri will play an important role in further strengthening the alliance, the office said in a statement.
 

Lee also told Greitens that Missouri dispatched about 47,000 troops to help South Korea repel invading North Korean troops during the 1950-53 Korean War, the statement said.

Greitens said in response that he will try to reinforce the alliance between the two countries and expressed his hopes for further cooperation between South Korea and Missouri in agricultural technology, biotechnology and related areas, the statement said.

The governor also said that his wife established a Korean study center at the University of Missouri in February this year, and that he anticipates the two sides will further expand cooperation in trade, investment, education and cultural sectors. (Yonhap)