North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has expressed his willingness for an inter-Korean summit.

In a nationally-televised New Year's Day speech on Thursday, the North Korean leader said there needs to be a "great turning point" in the inter-Korean relations and that he will make every effort to advance dialogue with the South.

Kim also said Pyongyang can resume stalled high-level cross-border talks if the South is willing to improve ties through dialogue.

He then stressed that there is no reason not to hold the "highest-level dialogue" between the two Koreas if conditions are ripe.

Much of the 30-minute speech was focused on inter-Korean relations alongside discussions on ways to improve the regime's military capabilities and living conditions for North Koreans.

The speech came three days after the South Korean Presidential Unification Preparatory Committee proposed holding inter-Korean talks in January.