SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who has been seeking to improve strained relations with Pyongyang, ordered on Monday his cabinet to prepare a partial step-by-step implementation of existing agreements with North Korea.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung pledged to "respect" North Korea's political system and said Seoul would not seek unilateral reunification in a speech to mark Liberation Day.

President Lee Jae-myung's peace feelers come as Pyongyang slams Seoul's 'provocation' over an annual US-South Korean military exercise South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's attempt at engagement with the North by unilaterally reviving some inter-Korean agreements despite Pyongyang's persistent hostility is a long-term reconciliation strategy,