Independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo called on North Korea Thursday to give up its nuclear weapons and return to six-party disarmament talks as he seeks to boost his image as an advocate for strong national security.

“North Korea should give up its nuclear weapons,” Ahn said during a foreign policy briefing at his Seoul office. “(The North) should promptly return to the six-party talks to start processes for resolving nuclear issues.”

Earlier this month, Ahn visited front-line barracks, where he posed for photographs in uniform.

The 50-year-old is currently in consultations with fellow liberal candidate Moon Jae-in, of the main opposition Democratic United Party, to merge their respective campaigns. The two have not yet decided how to pick a final contender to run against their conservative rival.

“North Korea’s military provocations cannot be accepted in any case,” Ahn said. “Our military should maintain high military readiness to protect the people.”

Ahn, who formerly served as a doctor in the Navy, said he will firmly defend the tense western sea border, known as the Northern Limit Line (NLL). Pyongyang refuses to accept the border and demands it be drawn further south.

“The NLL is a maritime boundary agreed by South and North Korea, which cannot be compromised in any circumstances,” Ahn said.

“I will firmly defend the NLL and territorial sovereignty.” (Yonhap News)