South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha arrives at Incheon International Airport on Dec. 7 after visiting Bahrain and United Arab Emirates. Yonhap

South Korea is "very encouraged" by signs coming from the incoming U.S. administration regarding the South Korea-U.S. alliance and cooperation, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Thursday.

Kang also said working with the incumbent U.S. administration of President Donald Trump has been great but challenging.

"We are very encouraged by the signs coming from the new incoming administration, although we are not able to coordinate or collaborate because this is time of the transition, and we want to preserve and respect that space for the incoming administration," Kang said in a webinar hosted by the Washington-based Aspen Institute.

Kang's remarks come about six weeks before U.S. President-elect Joe Biden is set to be inaugurated on Jan. 20.