North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong Un said in a New Year's speech on Thursday that he is willing to meet with South Korea's head of state, taking a step toward normalizing strained relations.

Kim said suspended senior-level talks could be resumed if Seoul showed sincerity in improving North-South relations through dialogue. He added there was no reason to push highest-level talks if conditions are met.

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The two Koreas have not taken part in a summit since 2007. Despite Kim's positive attitude toward possible talks, a new summit is highly unlikely with the deep distrust between the two neighbors.

Political experts in Seoul welcomed the possibility of more talks among lower level officials. Cheong Seong-chang of the Sejong Institute said strained ties between North and South Korea could worsen if military tension did not ease through a summit this year.

South Korea's leaders say they are open to the idea of new talks. The South is awaiting word from the North on a proposal to meet this month to take on several issues necessary for unification. South Korea sent the proposal earlier this week.

Kim said 2015 is significant because it is the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese forces. Both Seoul and Pyongyang claim to prioritize reunification, but questions remain over how it could be accomplished.

The North's leader added in his speech that he will keep his country's "Military First" policy and told his audience he would pursue economic, technology and science policies that could improve citizens' quality of life.

He stressed that South Korea must stop efforts that will lead to wars and instead focus on promoting peace. Kim added the U.S. must also change its "hostile policy" and so-called invasion plots on the North.

Kim's half-hour speech was the third he delivered on New Year's Day. It is the first after the traditional three-year grieving period over the loss his father, Kim Jong Il, in late 2011.

TagsTwo Koreas, North Korea, Summit