S. Korea Pushes for Korean War “Peace Declaration”

RunWithRugs · 2026-03-29T21:26:31+00:00

South Korea’s Unification Ministry plans to pursue a political peace declaration to formally conclude the Korean War and promote lasting peace on the peninsula, involving North Korea, the U.S., and China. The initiative aims to transition from the 1953 armistice to a formal treaty, though concerns about potential North Korean backlash exist.

RunWithRugs

2026-03-29 21:26:31

Abstract generation in progress

(MENAFN) South Korea’s Unification Ministry announced Friday it will push for a political “peace declaration” designed to formally close the chapter on the Korean War and establish the foundations for a lasting peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, local media reported.

In a report submitted to the National Assembly, the ministry said the declaration would signal the political resolve of all key parties to move beyond the 1953 armistice that silenced the guns but never legally ended the conflict, media reported.

Technically, North Korea and South Korea remain in a state of war, as hostilities were suspended through an armistice rather than concluded with a formal peace treaty.

The proposed initiative would bring together South Korea, North Korea, the United States, and China — all original signatories to the 1953 armistice agreement.

The push follows a pledge by President Lee Jae Myung to redouble efforts to convert the decades-old ceasefire into a durable peace arrangement, including the possibility of a formal peace treaty.

Officials described the declaration as a political stepping stone toward de-escalation and a gateway to broader talks on regional security and stability.

The proposal echoes a similar drive by former President Moon Jae-in, whose campaign for an end-of-war declaration collapsed after the 2019 Hanoi summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and then-US President Donald Trump ended in deadlock.

Seoul also cautioned that Pyongyang may respond with condemnation or military provocations during the upcoming Freedom Shield joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States, scheduled for March 9–19.

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