South Korean President Lee Jae Myung proposes that the two Koreas begin talks with the aim of formally ending the Korean War, which has never been replaced by a peace treaty. He makes the call in a speech marking Korea’s Liberation Day, and frames it as a move toward lowering military tensions and establishing a new peace arrangement to replace the 1950-53 armistice.
Across outlets, Lee’s proposal centers on creating a “peace regime” for the peninsula and reducing the risk of conflict. Several reports add that the discussions should include practical steps related to North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, alongside broader efforts toward peaceful coexistence. Some coverage also places the proposal in a wider regional context, noting that North Korea strengthens ties with Russia and that US-South Korean military exercises are due to start soon, factors that shape the backdrop for any negotiations.
Sources also differ slightly in emphasis: some focus more on the formal end of the war and the armistice-to-peace transition, while others highlight nuclear curbs and safeguards. None of the reports indicate that North Korea has accepted or responded to the overture.
