U.S., South Korea review regional security

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SEOUL, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- The incoming government in Seoul said it would work closely with the United States to ensure security prevails on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korean President-elect Park Guen-hye spoke Friday by telephone with U.S. President Barack Obama. Park's conservative Grand National Party said bilateral efforts were needed to address provocative actions made by North Korean, the Yonhap news agency in Seoul reports.

North Korea launched a rocket Dec. 12, one week before South Korea had presidential elections. Both Koreas remain technically at war.

Park, with a narrow victory in Wednesday's election, became the first woman elected president in South Korea.

Washington has embraced a policy that puts renewed military emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region as formal conflict in the Middle East winds down.

The North Korean government said little about Park's election apart from announcing her victory on state-run media.

The rocket launch last week was seen as a provocative action given that similar launches in 2006 and 2009 coincided with North Korean nuclear tests.

Park is sworn into office Feb. 25.