Washington: President Joe Biden on Friday said he and South Korean President Moon Jae-in remain “deeply concerned” about the situation with North Korea, and announced he will deploy a new special envoy to the region to help refocus efforts on pressing Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons programme.

Moon, meanwhile, welcomed “America’s return” to the world stage and said both leaders pledged to work closely toward denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

Biden said he was dispatching career diplomat Sung Kim, who previously served as ambassador to South Korea, to serve as the special envoy to the region.

Moon said the move by Biden “reflects the firm commitment of the US for exploring diplomacy and its readiness for dialogue with North Korea.”

Moon came to Washington seeking renewed diplomatic urgency by the US on curbing North Korea’s nuclear programme, even as the White House signalled that it is taking a longer view on the issue. High on Biden’s list for the meeting as well: coordination in vaccine distribution, climate change and regional security concerns spurred by China.

Their meeting was only Biden’s second in-person session with a foreign leader because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Moon said after the meeting the two had “a very frank dialogue like old friends” and emphasized the need for cooperation on security issues in the region.

“The most urgent common task that our two countries must undertake is achieving complete denuclearization and permanent peace on the Korean peninsula,” he said.