South Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho (Photo: The Korea Herald)

Lee made the remarks during the annual Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity. To foster resilient peace, the vice minister called for greater cooperation, exchanges, and trade among countries in the region, which he said would help them understand one another and increase mutual trust.

He said he hopes that South Korean President Moon Jae-in's proposal last year to build an East Asian railroad community will lead to the creation of a multilateral platform aimed at promoting regional peace and security.

The 3-day peace forum will focus on ways to facilitate North Korea's denuclearization and establish a lasting peace on the peninsula.