President Lee Jae Myung says North Korea is refusing all dialogue and contact with South Korea, calling such a state very dangerous.

Lee made the remark on Monday during a news conference aboard Air Force One bound for Turkiye. 

Lee said if an accidental clash were to occur between the two Koreas, there would be no way to address it, and that even the most hostile countries have emergency contact networks and hotlines. 

The president called the North's refusal to engage in dialogue or contact regrettable and said it is not desirable for the South's national interest. 

Given the current situation, Lee said the South must respond with greater patience while securing firm deterrence, stressing that to pursue dialogue with the North, it must build up the capability to neutralize Pyongyang's provocations.

Lee said the South is open to dialogue with North Korea while underlining the importance of exchange.