South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaks at the ceremony to mark 80 years of Liberation Day in Seoul on August 15, 2025. (Photo: Yonhap/VNA)

President Lee described framing peace as the foundation of security, adding that improved relations with North Korea is essential to the South’s national interest and to expanding Seoul’s diplomatic space amid rapidly changing external conditions.

He underscored the need for South Korea to steadily take steps to ease tensions on the basis of maintaining an ironclad preparedness.