South Korean President Lee Jae Myung pledged to "respect" North Korea's political system and said Seoul would not seek unilateral reunification in a speech to mark Liberation Day.

South Korea will end some military activities along its border with North Korea, President Lee Jae Myung said on Friday, in his government's latest effort to improve ties between the neighbours still technically at war.

South Korea’s new liberal president, Lee Jae Myung, says he will seek to restore a 2018 military agreement with North Korea aimed at reducing border tensions and urged Pyongyang to respond to Seoul’s efforts to rebuild trust and revive dialogue.