South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called on Saturday for talks with ​North Korea to pursue peaceful coexistence, saying Seoul ‌would seek safeguards to prevent conflict and noting the need to replace the peninsula's armistice with a "peace regime".

Axar.az reports, citing Reuters, that in a speech marking the ​anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, Lee ​said the two Koreas should hold a sit-down ⁠for coexistence.

He urged dialogue between North Korea and concerned ​parties to end the 1950-53 Korean War, which was stopped ​by a ceasefire, not a peace treaty, and said discussions could also explore effective measures to curb Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities.

Lee said Seoul would ​take preemptive and sustained steps to ease tensions and ​build layered safeguards to contain escalation.

Lee's call largely builds on his pledge ‌last ⁠year to respect North Korea's system and seek peaceful coexistence with Pyongyang.