Seoul: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced a commitment to respect North Korea's political system and stated that South Korea will not pursue unification through absorption. The announcement was made during a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from Japanese colonial rule.

According to Anadolu Agency, President Lee emphasized the importance of easing tensions and restoring the 2018 inter-military deal. He outlined his vision for achieving denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and called for "proactive, gradual steps" to rebuild trust and prevent accidental military clashes.

President Lee's remarks came shortly after Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korea's leader, rejected South Korea's reconciliatory gestures, such as the dismantling of propaganda loudspeakers along the border. Despite this, President Lee reiterated South Korea's respect for North Korea's system and affirmed that no hostile actions would be pursued.

In a related development, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised the strengthening ties with Russia during an event in Pyongyang celebrating the same anniversary. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim highlighted the cooperation between North Korea and Russia in their joint efforts to defend sovereignty, security, and international justice, describing it as an unprecedented alliance against neo-Nazism.