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South Korean president proposes talks with North Korea to formally end Korean War
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

South Korean president proposes talks with North Korea to formally end Korean War

From Vanguard · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • South Korean President Lee Jae Myung proposed talks with North Korea to formally end the Korean War.
  • The proposal aims to reduce tensions and potentially halt North Korea's nuclear program advancement.
  • This comes as North Korea deepens ties with Russia and asserts its nuclear status, while denouncing upcoming US-South Korean military drills.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has proposed direct talks with North Korea to formally end the Korean War. The initiative aims to de-escalate tensions on the peninsula and potentially address the advancement of North Korea's nuclear capabilities. The two Koreas remain technically at war, as the 1950-53 conflict concluded with an armistice, not a peace treaty.

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

— Lee Jae MyungSouth Korean President Lee Jae Myung proposed talks to formally end the Korean War.

President Lee made the proposal during a speech commemorating Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule. "Let us put down our intentions to threaten each other and begin discussions to end the long-running war as the directly involved parties," Lee stated. He added that such discussions could also lead to "effective measures to halt the advancement of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities."

The proposal arrives amidst heightened regional tensions. North Korea recently condemned planned US-South Korean military exercises and has expressed strong objections to Japan's increasing defense capabilities. Pyongyang has consistently declared itself a nuclear state, a stance solidified since the collapse of the 2019 summit between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump.

Through this, it may also be possible to discuss effective measures to halt the advancement of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.

— Lee Jae MyungSouth Korean President Lee Jae Myung suggested a potential outcome of peace talks.

President Lee, who took office in June 2025, has adopted a more conciliatory approach toward Pyongyang compared to his predecessor. He has offered unconditional talks, and a South Korean minister suggested Seoul is shifting focus from demanding denuclearization to halting Pyongyang's nuclear expansion. However, North Korea has not responded to Lee's overtures, instead strengthening its military and political ties with Russia. Analysts suggest Russia is providing Moscow with military technology and supplies for its war in Ukraine in exchange for financial aid, food, and energy.

They’ve taken those lessons they learned there and brought them back to North Korea. Our training accounts for that threat.

— Colonel Ryan DonaldA spokesman for the US and South Korean Combined Forces Command discussed North Korea's military learning from the European war.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Vanguard in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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