MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held talks on improving relations and possible cooperation on Syria and the Korean Peninsula, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

During a phone conversation on Saturday, Lavrov and Pompeo exchanged views on a range of subjects including the countries working together "on an equal and mutually beneficial basis", a ministry statement said.

The diplomats also discussed a number of international issues such as joining with other countries to address humanitarian problems in Syria as well as promoting the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, according to the statement.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and United States President Donald Trump held a summit in Finland's capital Helsinki, where they discussed a wide range of topics.

Pompeo on Friday confirmed that Trump had continued talks with Putin and said the two leaders began discussing the return of millions of Syrian refugees.

Pompeo also said Trump remains optimistic about the prospects of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

Pompeo made the remarks during a briefing for reporters at the United Nations headquarters following his meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and members of the Security Council.

Meanwhile, officials of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Russia have discussed building a peacekeeping mechanism on the Korean Peninsula, the Korean Central News Agency reported on Saturday.

Russian Vice-Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov met with DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho and held talks with Choe Son-hui and Sin Hong- chol, vice-ministers of foreign affairs, said the KCNA.

The two sides had in-depth exchanges of views and discussed other issues of mutual concern, said the KCNA.

Morgulov left Pyongyang on Friday after a three-day visit.

The DPRK and Russia are marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations and DPRK media said last week that the two sides would strengthen their traditional ties.

Xinhua