Seoul: South Korea's foreign ministry announced Tuesday that Seoul and Washington are engaged in working-level discussions on "high-level communications" amid hopes that acting President Han Duck-soo may soon hold his first phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump. The ministry's spokesperson, Lee Jae-woong, revealed this development during a press briefing following the Constitutional Court's decision to reject Han's impeachment, which was initiated nearly three months ago following President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law on December 3.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who temporarily assumed the role of acting president until Monday, had not managed to establish any phone contact with President Trump since his return to the presidency in January, attributed in part to the leadership vacuum. Addressing the possibility of a phone call between Han and Trump, spokesperson Lee emphasized, "Both South Korea and the U.S. share the importance of high-level communications."

Lee further mentioned that working-level consultations are currently underway between the two countries to facilitate this vital communication. This development is seen as crucial for maintaining strong ties between Seoul and Washington, particularly following the recent political turbulence in South Korea.