MANILA - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday evening talked on the phone with US President Donald Trump.

President Duterte talking to US President Donald Trump on the phone. Photo from SAP Bong Go @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/NQRQJZnMQH

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Trump and Duterte talked over the phone after the Filipino leader hosted 9 other Southeast Asian leaders in the 30th ASEAN Summit.

Duterte earlier said in a press conference that he would urge Trump to go easy on North Korea, after Washington raised alarm over Pyongyang's nuclear tests that have rattled allies Japan and South Korea.

The phone call came ahead of Duterte's visit to a Chinese warship in Sasa Port, Davao City scheduled on Sunday.

Before US President Donald Trump assumed office, Duterte was angered by the Obama administration's concerns over his war on drugs.

However, ties between Manila and Washington improved when Trump came to power.

So far, Trump has not directly and openly criticized Duterte's controversial campaign. Recently, however, the US State Department under his administration described the extra-judicial killings linked to Duterte's campaign as "troubling."

This was the second time Duterte and Trump talked over the phone.

Last December, Duterte called Trump to congratulate the latter over his election victory.