Seoul: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday called for talks with North Korea to end their long-running state of war and explore ways to halt the advancement of Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities, pledging to pursue a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.
According to Qatar News Agency, President Lee made the appeal during a ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of Liberation Day. He emphasized the importance of dialogue, stating, "Let us put down our intentions to threaten each other and begin discussions to end the long-running war as the directly involved parties. In the process, (we) may also discuss effective ways to halt the advancement of the North's nuclear capabilities."
President Lee expressed his commitment to transitioning from the current armistice to a stable peace regime. His call for dialogue comes amid North Korea's silence on multiple initiatives from Seoul since Lee's inauguration in June last year.
In his address on Liberation Day the previous year, President Lee reiterated his respect for North Korea's existing system, his rejection of unification through absorption, and his commitment to avoiding hostile actions against Pyongyang. The Korean Peninsula remains technically at war since the Korean War concluded with an armistice in 1953, rather than a formal peace treaty.