SEOUL : US President-elect Barack Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak agreed Friday to work together to tackle North Korea's nuclear disarmament and the global financial turmoil, Lee's spokesman said.

Lee and Obama in a phone conversation also agreed that a stronger alliance between South Korea and the United States would promote Asian peace and stability, the spokesman said.

The two expressed a desire to meet as soon as possible, raising speculation they may hold talks on the sidelines of the Group of 20 financial summit scheduled for November 15 in Washington.

Lee is already set to meet a group of Obama's foreign policy advisers in Washington the day before the summit.

"Obama emphasised the need to further strengthen the South Korea-US alliance and noted their closer relations will be a cornerstone for peace and stability in Asia," the South Korean presidential spokesman said.

"Obama went on to show his friendly feeling towards Korea, calling himself a great admirer of South Korea and its people."

The United States is Seoul's oldest ally and stations 28,500 troops in the country to protect against any North Korean attack, yet the two have sometimes been at odds on how to handle the North.

Some commentators say Obama's stated willingness to talk to hostile leaders such as the North's Kim Jong-Il could disrupt six-nation nuclear disarmament talks unless properly handled.

There is also unease about Obama's attitude to a US-South Korea free trade agreement awaiting legislative ratification by both countries.

He has called it "badly flawed," saying it does not address the imbalance in Seoul's favour in the auto trade.

Obama reportedly expressed a fondness for Korean food and complimented President Lee on his fluency in English during the 12-minute conversation.

"He said that bulgogi and kimchi are his favorite things to eat for lunch," according to Lee's spokesman.

- AFP/vm