"North Korea has also committed itself to abandoning nuclear weapons and pursuing peace and prosperity, rather than enduring isolation and destitution, armed with nuclear weapons," he said in a speech.

He was addressing an official ceremony to commemorate the anniversary, called Gaecheonjeol in Korean, at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul.

He appealed to the world to help the two Koreas succeed in the process.

Lee reaffirmed the Moon administration's top priority of creating a "fair, righteous and inclusive" society in which not a single citizen faces discrimination. (Yonhap)