South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has publicly proposed formal peace talks with North Korea to officially end the Korean War.
Speaking at the 81st Liberation Day ceremony in Seoul, Lee urged both nations to replace the unstable 1953 armistice agreement with a permanent peace treaty.
A direct call for dialogue
During his speech, President Lee appealed directly to Pyongyang to reduce military tensions and rebuild cross-border communication. He emphasized that both sides need to take practical steps toward coexistence, stating:
“Let us put down our intentions to threaten each other and begin discussions to end the long-running war as the directly involved parties.”
Tackling the nuclear issue
President Lee noted that opening negotiations to end the war would create a practical path to address North Korea’s growing nuclear arsenal.
He highlighted that through formal talks, “it may also be possible to discuss effective measures to halt the advancement of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.”
He added that Seoul will pursue “preemptive and consistent measures for peace” to manage peninsula crises.
Complex challenges ahead
Despite President Lee’s diplomatic push, the proposal faces heavy headwinds. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has recently taken a hostile stance toward Seoul discarding past goals of peaceful reunification.
Additionally, North Korea continues to expand its military alliance with Russia and has strongly condemned upcoming joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States.
