President Lee Jae Myung said unification is the path South Korea must take, whether it takes decades, centuries or millennia, and that it must be pursued peacefully.

During a speech on Tuesday at the launch of the 22nd Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, Lee stressed that the process of merging nations by absorption or suppression is not unification.

He said Seoul faces the challenge of ending its hostile, confrontational relationship with Pyongyang and establishing a new inter-Korean relationship based on peaceful coexistence. 

Lee said the North's attitude could change if the South exerts sincere effort, adding that if the cost of division is converted into a peace-based growth engine, the "Korea risk" could become a "Korea premium."

Lee highlighted the need to pursue cooperation for joint growth of the two Koreas and proposed restoring inter-Korean communication channels to resume sincere dialogue.

Regarding areas of cooperation, the president said the two Koreas should first start discussing exchanges and joint ventures that are beneficial to both sides, including those related to climate change, disaster and safety management as well as medical care.

On the issue of denuclearization, Lee said his administration will continue efforts to end the state of war on the peninsula, pursue a nuclear-free peninsula and establish permanent peace in the region.