U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Yu Myung-hwan, nominated as foreign minister by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, discussed the North Korean situation Monday with Rice restating the U.S. commitment to implementing reciprocal steps as Pyongyang moves toward denuclearization, Yonhap reported. International efforts to prod North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program have stalled, with the country missing a December deadline to detail its activities.

Rice said a joint U.S.-South Korea effort was needed to convince North Korea that denuclearization is the course for the country, a South Korean official told Yonhap. Rice lead the U.S. delegation to Lee's inauguration. Yu is awaiting confirmation as foreign minister.

Rice said the U.S.-South Korea relationship "has only deepened over the years because we share something very important. As much as we share strategic efforts, we certainly share common values."