President Lee Myung-bak has proposed a high-level diplomatic channel between the two Koreas.

In an interview with The Washington Post Thursday, Lee said efforts to establish such a channel would include creating the first liaison offices in the two nations' capitals. Lee said the offices should be headed by officials with direct access to the leaders of each country.

Lee said he wants a permanent channel to facilitate regular dialogue. He noted that up until now the two sides have held talks only when needed, which he said was not helpful.

Lee stressed the need for regular dialogue at a time when Pyongyang appears to be having trouble adjusting to his new administration's approach to inter-Korean matters.

The president said both North and South Korea must change, adding that it’s not sufficient for North Korea to resort to its old ways.

On the North Korean nuclear issue, Lee embraced a recent U.S. proposal to have the North "acknowledge" U.S. concerns and evidence about its alleged efforts to enrich uranium and pursue nuclear trade with Syria.