South Korea's President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday that denuclearizing the Korean peninsula is a goal that could never be compromised or separated from the process of improving South-North relations.
Moon spoke at a New Year's media conference a day after the two Koreas held a high-level meeting in Panmunjom for the first time in two years.
The South Korean leader noted the ongoing progress of improving inter-Korean ties, stressing that a war on the Korean peninsula cannot be repeated.
He highlighted the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games as a chance to lead Pyongyang back to the negotiating table.
However, Moon said the South has no plans to scale back sanctions on the North to punish its nuclear and missile provocations.
If the North launches another provocation, the South will initiate a two-track policy of imposing further pressure while seeking dialogue, he said.
Moon pledged to work in "even closer cooperation" with regional partners and allies such as the United States, China and Japan in order to peacefully resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis.
The live media event at the presidential office was Moon's second press conference to date, after his first session in August last year which marked his 100th day in office.
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This article has been adapted from its original source.
