South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called for dialogue with North Korea to formally end the Korean War and establish South Korea North Korea peaceful coexistence. He urged Seoul and Pyongyang to replace the current armistice with a lasting peace regime.
Speaking during a ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule, Lee said the two Koreas should resume dialogue. He called for discussions focused on peaceful coexistence and shared economic growth.
The Korean War, fought from 1950 to 1953, ended with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty. Lee said the peninsula should move beyond the unstable ceasefire arrangement and begin a process aimed at permanently ending the conflict.
Lee said pursuing South Korea North Korea peaceful coexistence should not be viewed as a concession. He argued that direct dialogue could create the foundation for reducing tensions and building a more stable security environment on the Korean Peninsula.
The South Korean president also said talks could examine ways to limit North Korea’s nuclear capabilities. He pledged that Seoul would take measures to reduce tensions and establish safeguards designed to prevent further escalation.
Relations between Seoul and Pyongyang remain deeply strained. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has described South Korea as a hostile state, while Pyongyang has repeatedly criticised joint South Korea-US military exercises and Seoul’s plans to develop nuclear-powered submarines.
Lee also highlighted South Korea’s relationship with Japan, calling cooperation between the neighbouring countries increasingly important. He said Seoul and Tokyo should expand cooperation in supply chains, energy and advanced industries while addressing historical issues through empathy and recognition of past suffering.
