President Lee Myung-bak stressed the need for inter-Korean summit talks when he gave a speech at a ceremony marking Independence Day on Saturday.

An official from the presidential office says the key message of Lee’s speech in regards to North Korea is that South-North summit talks are essential in order for the two Koreas to move toward true peace.

The official said Lee made it apparent during his speech on Saturday that his administration is ready to cooperate with the North on all inter-Korean issues, at any time, at any level.

Lee’s statement suggests that the North’s nuclear dismantlement would not be a precondition for inter-Korean summit talks but that the talks could provide a significant opportunity to resolve key South-North issues.

If such summit talks take place, the discussions will likely focus on seeking ways to ensure economic development in the North and on Pyongyang’s denuclearization. Ways to reduce the levels of conventional weapons on the Korean Peninsula would also likely top discussions.