Obama seeks cooperation with new S. Korea leader

WASHINGTON  (AFP) - United States (US) President Barack Obama said on Wednesday he expected closer cooperation with South Korea after the election of conservative Park Geun Hye, calling the nation "a lynchpin" of security in Asia.

Mr Obama in a statement congratulated the ruling party candidate, the daughter of the democracy's former military ruler, on her victory in becoming the first female leader of Asia's fourth largest economy.

"I look forward to working closely with the Park administration to further enhance our extensive cooperation with the Republic of Korea (ROK) on a wide range of important bilateral, regional and global issues," he said, using South Korea's official name.

"The US-ROK alliance serves as a lynchpin of peace and security in the Asia Pacific and our two nations share a global partnership with deep economic, security and people-to-people ties," he said.