South Korean President Moon Jae In said Tuesday no military action on the Korean Peninsula is possible without his country's approval and urged peaceful resolution of the crisis over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

"There should never be war again. Nobody can decide to take military action without our consent," Moon said in a speech marking the 72nd anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from Japanese colonial rule.

His remarks came amid escalating tensions between Washington and Pyongyang since North Korea test-launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles in July. Subsequently, the U.N. Security Council imposed fresh sanctions on North Korea, angering the North.

The United States and North Korea have been trading barbs on potential military attacks, with Pyongyang threatening to fire four intermediate-range ballistic missiles over Japan to land in waters in the vicinity of the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, home to about 7,000 U.S. troops and 160,000 people.

"Issues regarding the Korean Peninsula should be decided by us, with our national interest being the top priority," Moon said.

The threat to target Guam prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to say in a Twitter post on Friday, "Military solutions are now fully in place, locked and loaded, should North Korea act unwisely."

Referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Trump also told reporters, "If he does anything with respect to Guam or any place else that's an American territory or an American ally, he will truly regret it. And he will regret it fast."

In Tuesday's speech, Moon also reiterated his call on North Korea to engage in talks, saying, "Stop provocations immediately and come to the table for dialogue."

He said dialogue could start but that North Korea should first halt "nuclear and missile provocations."

Last month, Seoul proposed that the two Koreas hold dialogue on ways to defuse tensions along their heavily militarized border and restart reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

But North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said earlier this month after a rare, brief meeting with his South Korean counterpart that Seoul's offer to resume dialogue "lacks sincerity."

The South Korean leader said in his speech that enforcing sanctions and pressure on North Korea is not aimed at raising military tensions but inducing North Korea to engage in dialogue.

"I urge the North Korean authorities. It is impossible to achieve economic development without international cooperation and co-existence," he said.

Moon warned that North Korea would inevitably face "international isolation and a dark future" if it insists on keeping to its current course.

Kim on Monday inspected North Korea's army and received a briefing on its plans to fire missiles near Guam, official media said.

Moon also called on Japanese leaders to take a "courageous" step to resolve the issues of Korean women forced into wartime brothels for the Japanese military and forced labor by Korean people during Japan's rule.