'Begin discussions': South Korea's Lee Jae-myung calls for talks with North Korea

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has urged North Korea to engage in direct talks aimed at formally ending the Korean War and establishing a lasting peace regime on the peninsula.

Speaking at a ceremony commemorating Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, Lee called on both Koreas to "put down our intentions to threaten each other and begin discussions to end the long-running war as the directly involved parties." The conflict, which lasted from 1950 to 1953, concluded with an armistice agreement, leaving the two nations technically still at war.

Lee suggested that such dialogue could also provide a platform to discuss effective measures to curb North Korea's advancing nuclear program. His administration, which began in June 2025, has adopted a more conciliatory stance toward Pyongyang, offering unconditional talks and emphasizing peaceful coexistence, a departure from his predecessor's approach.

However, North Korea has consistently rejected engagement offers from Seoul. Leader Kim Jong Un has abandoned previous reunification policies, labeled South Korea as its primary adversary, and ordered the reinforcement of frontline defenses. This comes as North Korea reportedly deepens its military and political ties with Russia, with analysts suggesting Pyongyang receives financial aid, food, energy, and military technology in exchange for supplying arms for Russia's war in Ukraine.

Lee's call for dialogue precedes the annual U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises, scheduled to commence on Monday. North Korea has previously condemned these drills as provocative. The U.S. maintains approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea as part of its security commitment.

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Let us put down our intentions to threaten each other and begin discussions to end the long-running war as the directly involved parties.