South Korea's new president vows to 'heal wounds' with the North

New South Korean President Lee Jae-myung vowed to reach out to the North and "heal wounds" as he took office Wednesday, after winning snap elections triggered by his predecessor's disastrous martial law declaration.

Lee scored a thumping victory over conservative Kim Moon-soo from disgraced ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol's former party, with his term beginning immediately after the vote tally was certified early Wednesday.

Lee spoke to the country's top military commander and formally assumed operational control of the country's armed forces on Wednesday, urging them to maintain "readiness" in case of Pyongyang's provocations.

However, Lee said he was ready to talk, seeking to build peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Lee's comments on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are a "significant departure" from those of his hawkish predecessor Yoon, as he did not immediately attach preconditions to dialogue with Pyongyang, said Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification.

It signals "his desire to resolve disagreements through talks," Hong told AFP. It remains to be seen how Pyongyang will respond, he added.

Lee held a modest inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly. Just a few hundred guests attended, in contrast to the large outdoor events held after regularly scheduled elections, which often attract tens of thousands.

He will later head to the presidential office to begin naming key cabinet members, with the focus on who is tapped to serve as presidential chief of staff, prime minister and director of the National Intelligence Service.

(With input from AFP)