Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon met with former Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Tuesday and discussed ways to increase cooperation between their countries, his office said.

Megawati arrived in South Korea on Monday for a five-day trip mainly to attend a ceremony to receive an honorary doctorate degree from Mokpo National University in the southwest coastal city of Mokpo.

During the meeting, Lee told Megawati that he is pleased the two countries have worked closely together in almost all areas and expressed appreciation for Megawati’s efforts to improve relations between their nations, Lee’s office said in a statement.

Megawati expressed thanks to Lee for taking time out of his busy schedule to welcome her. She added she hopes that tensions with North Korea will be resolved in a peaceful manner and that the two Koreas will promote reconciliation and work together.

Lee briefed Megawati on the government’s efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue and called for Indonesia’s continued support for those efforts.

While in Mokpo, Megawati is also scheduled to visit a memorial set up to commemorate the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize that late former President Kim Dae-jung received for his peace initiative with North Korea. She is set to visit Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co., as well. (Yonhap)