Chicago – August 15, 2026
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has proposed talks with North Korea to formally end the Korean War and replace the peninsula’s decades-old armistice with a permanent peace regime.
Speaking at a ceremony marking Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule, Lee urged both sides to abandon hostile intentions and begin discussions as the parties directly involved in the 1950–53 conflict. He said negotiations could also address practical measures to halt the advancement of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.
The Korean War ended in 1953 with a ceasefire agreement rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas technically at war. Lee said Seoul would pursue sustained measures to reduce tensions and establish safeguards against accidental military clashes.
The proposal comes amid strained relations. North Korea has rejected previous engagement efforts from Seoul, criticised forthcoming US–South Korean military exercises and strengthened military ties with Russia. Pyongyang has not yet publicly responded to Lee’s latest initiative.
South Korea’s government faces internal disagreement over the proposal, with the foreign minister reportedly describing broader multilateral talks as insufficiently coordinated and idealistic.
