On August 15, in a Liberation Day speech marking the 79th anniversary of independence from Japan after World War II, Mr. Yoon expressed his willingness to begin political and economic cooperation if North Korea "takes just one step" toward denuclearization.

Mr Yoon used the speech to announce plans for unification and a new approach to Pyongyang. The South Korean president said the creation of an “inter-Korean working group” could help ease tensions and address everything from economic cooperation to people-to-people exchanges and reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War. “Dialogue and cooperation can bring about substantial progress in inter-Korean relations,” he said.

In his speech, Mr. Yoon also raised the idea of ​​launching an international conference on human rights in North Korea and a fund to raise global awareness of the issue, support activist groups and expand North Korean people's access to outside information.

“If more Koreans realize that unification through freedom is the only way to improve their lives, and believe that a unified Republic of Korea will welcome them, they will become a strong, friendly force for unification based on freedom,” he said.

His remarks came after his administration's recent offer to provide relief supplies to North Korea to deal with flood damage. South Korea's offer of aid was rejected by North Korea.

But a unified Korea seems a distant prospect as relations between the two neighbors are at their lowest point in decades, as North Korea races to develop its nuclear and missile capabilities and takes steps to cut ties with South Korea.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)