South Korea's new liberal president, Lee Jae Myung, said Friday that he will seek to restore a 2018 military agreement with North Korea aimed at reducing border tensions and urged Pyongyang to respond to Seoul's efforts to rebuild trust and revive dialogue.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung vowed on Friday to "respect" North Korea's political system and build "military trust", a day after Pyongyang said it had no interest in improving relations with Seoul.

South Korea will end some military activities along its border with North Korea, President Lee Jae Myung said on Friday, in his government's latest effort to improve ties between the neighbouring countries still technically at war.