Seoul, August 16: North Korea has yet to respond to South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s initiative to formally end the Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953, and to establish a lasting peace agreement.
According to Yonhap News Agency, during his address on Liberation Day, Lee urged for the resumption of dialogue with North Korea. He emphasized the need for both nations to work towards ending their long-standing conflict and to strive for peaceful coexistence.
However, as of Sunday morning, North Korean state media had not published any news regarding Lee’s address. Instead, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and Rodong Sinmun focused on nationwide events celebrating the 81st anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule.
The Korean War technically ended in 1953 with an armistice agreement, but no formal peace treaty has been signed between the two Koreas. This means that, in essence, North and South Korea remain in a state of war. Achieving a peace agreement to formally end the war has long been a critical issue in regional diplomacy.
Lee’s recent proposal comes at a time when his administration is actively seeking to reduce tensions with North Korea and initiate dialogue. Since taking office, Lee has prioritized negotiations and peaceful coexistence with the North as key policies.
Nevertheless, Pyongyang has not responded positively to Seoul’s numerous reconciliation efforts. In recent years, North Korea has adopted a more hardline stance towards South Korea, maintaining military and political tensions between the two nations.
Lee’s proposal emphasizes the need for discussions aimed at formally ending the war and establishing a permanent peace in the region. However, North Korea’s initial silence suggests that bringing Pyongyang to the negotiating table may not be an easy task for Seoul at this time.
Lee stated, “Let us avoid threats or warnings to each other and put an end to the long-standing war through dialogue.” He also mentioned the importance of discussing nuclear issues.
The South Korean government has reiterated its commitment to ongoing dialogue with North Korea, aiming to seize any opportunity to reduce tensions and move towards lasting peace.
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