Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo formally declared his candidacy for South Korea’s upcoming presidential election on Friday, pledging to pursue dialogue with North Korea while strengthening deterrence against nuclear threats.

Han’s campaign launch came after he resigned from his dual posts as prime minister and acting president on Thursday, clearing the way for him to run in the election.

The 75-year-old career bureaucrat placed constitutional reform and national unity at the heart of his platform, vowing to create a presidential task force for constitutional revision upon taking office, finalize the amendment in his second year and hold