South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has called for talks with North Korea and other stakeholders to replace the current armistice on the peninsula with a permanent peace regime. According to Reuters, Seoul is seeking peaceful coexistence with the DPRK and will look for guarantees and mechanisms designed to prevent conflict.
Briefly about the main points
- Seoul is proposing a transition from a ceasefire to a permanent peace regime.
- Lee Je-myung spoke in favour of peaceful coexistence with North Korea.
- South Korea wants to put conflict prevention mechanisms in place.
- Possible topics include limiting Pyongyang’s nuclear capabilities.
- The Korean War ended with a ceasefire, not a peace treaty.
What issues is Seoul proposing to raise in the dialogue?
President Lee Je-myung stated that talks between Pyongyang and other interested parties should be aimed at a definitive settlement of the Korean War. During such discussions, he said, effective measures to limit the DPRK’s nuclear capabilities could be considered.
This approach is in line with the «peaceful coexistence» programme unveiled by the South Korean Ministry of Unification in February. It envisages the simultaneous promotion of a peace regime and the resolution of the nuclear issue with Pyongyang.
The current ceasefire was to be replaced by a political agreement
The Korean War lasted from 1950 to 1953. The armistice came into force on 27 July 1953, but the parties did not sign a peace treaty.
The text of the agreement stipulated that its provisions would remain in force until a political agreement on a peaceful settlement was concluded. In February, the leader of the DPRK Kim Jong-un rejected Seoul’s calls for cooperation, stating that Pyongyang had nothing to discuss with South Korea.
