South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday reiterated his wish to formally declare an end to the Korean War and called on the United States (US) to support the move. Speaking virtually at the Annual Gala Dinner of the Korea Society—an American private non-profit that promotes US-Korea ties—the leader expressed his wish that the nations would join forces “to work toward the end-of-war declaration and draw active participation from the international community in this regard,” adding that such an action would “not only deter war but also actively create and institutionalize peace,” ultimately strengthening the countries’ alliance even further.
Though the Korean War ended in 1953, North and South Korea (ROK) still technically remain at war, given that the conflict ended in an armistice, rather than a peace treaty. Working towards peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula has been an important agenda item for President Moon, who has repeatedly advocated for dialogue between the two neighbours. In recent weeks, the security situation in the Korean Peninsula has become tense following the killing of a South Korean official at sea by North Korean troops in late September. Though North Korean leader Kim Jong-un offered a rare apology to South Korea over the incident, the country has resisted Seoul’s efforts to establish a joint inquiry into the matter.
President Moon said that, though there has been progress to bring peace to the Korean peninsula through efforts like the inter-Korean and US-North Korea summits, the countries needed to keep pushing forward, without “backtracking on hard-earned progress.” He added that the Seoul would continue working with Washington not just to build trust with North Korea, but also on issues of global significance, pointing to US President Donald Trump’s invitation for him to attend the G7 summit.
“I take it as America’s call on Korea to assume responsibility and a role commensurate with its international stature based on deep mutual trust between our two countries,” Moon said, adding that South Korea would actively participate in global efforts to address the coronavirus pandemic.
South Korea’s Moon Asks for US Support to Formally End Korean War
Mr. Moon said that such an action would “not only deter war but also actively create and institutionalize peace,” ultimately strengthening the US-ROK alliance even further.
October 9, 2020
South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in a car parade, September 2018 in Pyongyang. SOURCE: LOWY INSTITUTE/GETTY IMAGES