Seoul: The presidential office on Wednesday expressed regret over the latest criticism of President Lee Jae Myung's recent peace overtures by Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, stating that her remarks "distort" Seoul's sincere efforts to restore inter-Korean trust.

According to Yonhap News Agency, earlier in the day, North Korea's state media reported Kim Yo-jong's dismissal of Seoul's peace proposals, asserting that South Korea will never be a diplomatic partner for North Korea and labeling President Lee as "not the sort of man who will change the course of history."

The presidential office issued a statement expressing that it is regrettable for North Korean authorities to distort and misrepresent the sincere efforts made by the South. They emphasized that Lee's initiatives were aimed at ensuring stability for both Seoul and Pyongyang, reaffirming the administration's commitment to peace.

"The Lee Jae Myung administration's proactive measures for peace on the Korean Peninsula are not moves made for one-sided interests or with anyone in mind, but for the stability and prosperity of both the South and the North," the office declared. They further reiterated the government's intention to move beyond hostility and confrontation, aiming to open a new era of peaceful coexistence and shared growth on the Korean Peninsula.

In a recent Liberation Day speech, President Lee emphasized his respect for North Korea's political system and clarified that he would not pursue unification by absorption. He also promised to take steps to revive the suspended 2018 inter-Korean military pact, which was designed to ease tensions between the two nations.