SEOUL, South Korea: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, on August 15, known as for renewed talks with North Korea, saying dialogue was wanted to realize peaceable coexistence between the 2 Koreas.
He mentioned Seoul would work to create safeguards that might forestall a army battle and harassed that the present armistice on the Korean Peninsula ought to finally get replaced by a proper “peace regime”.
Lee made the feedback in a speech marking the anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule. He mentioned North and South Korea ought to sit down collectively and talk about methods to dwell peacefully alongside one another.
The South Korean president known as for dialogue involving North Korea and different international locations involved with the Korean Peninsula. He mentioned such talks might give attention to formally ending the 1950-53 Korean War, which stopped with a ceasefire moderately than a peace treaty.
Lee additionally mentioned negotiations might have a look at sensible and efficient methods to scale back the menace posed by North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. He argued that discussions shouldn’t solely give attention to peace but additionally tackle the safety considerations created by Pyongyang’s nuclear capabilities.
He mentioned South Korea would take steps upfront and proceed working to scale back tensions. Seoul would additionally set up a number of layers of safeguards designed to stop small incidents from growing right into a wider army confrontation.
Lee’s newest proposal largely follows a dedication he made final 12 months to respect North Korea’s political system and work in direction of peaceable coexistence with Pyongyang.
However, relations between the 2 Koreas stay deeply strained, with communication and cooperation largely frozen. North Korean chief Kim Jong Un has deserted his nation’s earlier coverage of in search of reunification with South Korea.
Kim has as an alternative described South Korea as North Korea’s most hostile state and has ordered stronger army defenses alongside the frontline.
North Korea has additionally rejected Lee’s makes an attempt to enhance relations and have interaction in dialogue. Pyongyang has criticized Seoul’s plans to develop nuclear-powered submarines and has described joint army workouts between the United States and South Korea as provocative actions.
Lee additionally addressed South Korea’s relationship with Japan in his speech. He mentioned the 2 international locations ought to confront tough points from the previous whereas specializing in future cooperation.
He mentioned he hoped South Korea and Japan might start a brand new interval of 60 years of peace and prosperity, describing Japan as a “close neighbor”.