South Korean president proposes permanent peace with North Korea
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (photo: Getty Images)
South Korea's leader has called on North Korea to begin negotiations to reach a permanent peace agreement rather than maintain a temporary armistice, Reuters reports.
In a speech marking the anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese rule, President Lee said the two Koreas should hold talks to achieve peaceful coexistence.
He called for dialogue between North Korea and the parties concerned to formally end the 1950–1953 Korean War, which was halted by an armistice rather than a peace treaty.
Lee also said the talks could address effective measures to limit Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities.
According to the South Korean president, Seoul will take preventive and consistent steps to reduce tensions and establish multilayered security measures to deter escalation.
The outlet notes that Lee's call builds on his pledge last year to respect North Korea's system and pursue peaceful coexistence with Pyongyang.
However, relations between North and South Korea remain frozen. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has abandoned the policy of reunification with South Korea, calling it the most hostile state and ordering stronger defenses along the front line.
North Korea has also rejected Lee's proposals to establish dialogue, criticized Seoul's plan to build nuclear-powered submarines and called joint US-South Korean military exercises provocations.
Speaking about relations with Japan, Lee urged people not to forget the past while looking to the future, and expressed hope of beginning a new 60 years of peace and prosperity with Japan as a "close neighbor."
Other details available
Notably, North Korea recently said that upcoming US-South Korean military exercises allegedly bring peace closer to a nuclear war. Pyongyang also said it could exercise its right to self-defense.
As also reported, according to Lieutenant General Scott Winter, Deputy Commander of the United Nations Command (UNC), North Korean troops' participation in Russia's war against Ukraine has given them modern combat experience and an opportunity to test their missile systems.
