SEOUL, South Korea: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, on August 15, called for renewed talks with North Korea, saying dialogue was needed to achieve peaceful coexistence between the two Koreas.

He said Seoul would work to create safeguards that could prevent a military conflict and stressed that the current armistice on the Korean Peninsula should eventually be replaced by a formal "peace regime".

Lee made the comments in a speech marking the anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule. He said North and South Korea should sit down together and discuss ways to live peacefully alongside each other.

The South Korean president called for dialogue involving North Korea and other countries concerned with the Korean Peninsula. He said such talks could focus on formally ending the 1950-53 Korean War, which stopped with a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty.

Lee also said negotiations could look at practical and effective ways to reduce the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons program. He argued that discussions should not only focus on peace but also address the security concerns created by Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities.

He said South Korea would take steps in advance and continue working to reduce tensions. Seoul would also establish several layers of safeguards designed to prevent small incidents from developing into a wider military confrontation.

Lee's latest proposal largely follows a commitment he made last year to respect North Korea's political system and work towards peaceful coexistence with Pyongyang.

However, relations between the two Koreas remain deeply strained, with communication and cooperation largely frozen. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has abandoned his country's previous policy of seeking reunification with South Korea.

Kim has instead described South Korea as North Korea's most hostile state and has ordered stronger military defenses along the frontline.

North Korea has also rejected Lee's attempts to improve relations and engage in dialogue. Pyongyang has criticized Seoul's plans to develop nuclear-powered submarines and has described joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea as provocative actions.

Lee also addressed South Korea's relationship with Japan in his speech. He said the two countries should confront difficult issues from the past while focusing on future cooperation.

He said he hoped South Korea and Japan could begin a new period of 60 years of peace and prosperity, describing Japan as a "close neighbor".