South Korean President Urges Dialogue with North Korea to Formally End Korean War

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has proposed talks with North Korea to formally end the long-running Korean War. Lee intends to replace the armistice agreement on the Korean Peninsula with a ‘peace regime’.

The two Koreas technically remain in a state of war, as the conflict that took place from 1950 to 1953 ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

Lee, as reported by AFP and Reuters on Saturday (15/8/2026), made the dialogue proposal in a speech during the ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of Korea’s independence or liberation from Japanese colonial rule, which is commemorated on 15 August each year in the country.

‘Let us set aside the intention to threaten each other and begin discussions to end this long-running war, as the parties directly involved,’ Lee said in his speech on Saturday (15/8).

‘Through this step, we may also be able to discuss effective measures to halt North Korea’s nuclear capabilities,’ the South Korean President said.

Lee added that Seoul would take proactive and sustainable steps to ease tensions and build a multi-layered security system to prevent escalation.

Lee’s proposal is largely based on his commitment last year to respect North Korea’s system of government and pursue peaceful coexistence with Pyongyang.

Relations between South Korea and North Korea remain frozen. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has abandoned the reunification policy and labelled South Korea as the most hostile state, as well as ordering the strengthening of defences along the front line.

Pyongyang has rejected Lee’s overtures and criticised Seoul’s plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. The isolated state has also condemned the joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States, which will be held next week, as an act of provocation.

North Korea has even launched two missiles within the past two weeks, which were detected falling into the sea.