Deal to End the Korean War Close to Completion, Officials Say

Photo Credit: Interim Archives / Getty Images
Photo Credit: Interim Archives / Getty Images

The South Korean government has shared that talks regarding an end-of-war declaration between it, North Korea and the United States may be coming to a close, nearly 70 years following the Korean War, which saw fighting occur between 1950 and 1953.

Tank firing munitions
A tank of 6th Tank Bn. fires on enemy positions in support of the 19th RCT. (Photo Credit: Pfc. Harry M. Schultz / Wikimedia Commons)

The remarks were made by Lee In-young, Chief of South Korea’s Ministry of Unification, at an academic conference at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul. Lee said both South Korea and the US have been in talks regarding a declaration to formally end the war, adding that the deal “is coming to a finish to some degree.”

Talks between South Korean and American diplomats began following a speech made before the UN General Assembly by South Korean President Moon Jae-in. During it, he said that the signatories need to “come together to declare that the war on the Korean Peninsula is over,” referring to the fact that the armistice agreement signed in 1953 simply put a stop to fighting and didn’t offer a long-term peace treaty.

“When the parties involved in the Korean War stand together and proclaim an end to the war, I believe we can make irreversible progress in denuclearization and usher in an era of complete peace,” he added.

Korean War refugee with her baby, standing in front of a tank
Korean War refugee. (Photo Credit: Maj. R.V. Spencer, UAF / Wikimedia Commons)

Currently, officials are at odds regarding the timing and sequence of talks over a potential end-of-war declaration, with US officials expressing concern over the urgency with which Moon is pushing for it to occur. They have also expressed worry over how it could affect America’s talks with North Korea.

Speaking with The Diplomat, Mason Richey, professor of international and area studies at Kankuk University, said, “Washington does not seem to at all think a front-end declaration of the end of the Korean War is a good idea in the context of negotiations with the North. Washington sees such a declaration as an output of diplomacy, not an enticement for the North to come to the negotiation table.”

Despite this, South Korean diplomats have expressed optimism. Choi Jong-kun, the country’s Vice Foreign Minister, told reporters in Washington, D.C. that he expects a “good result,” while Foreign Minister Chung Eui-young said “the coordination between South Korea and the US is in the final stage” and that “the format and content of the end-of-war declaration have almost been agreed upon.

Bombing of Wonsan during the Korean War
Bombing of Wonsan, North Korea during the war. (Photo Credit: USAF / Wikimedia Commons)

Following Moon’s speech in September, Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong-un’s sister and speaker for inter-Korean relations, said North Korea partially welcomed the proposal, but that the country would not renew talks unless the US makes some concessions. This would include the removal of the “hostile policy,” leading to the withdrawal of US troops from South Korea and halting joint US-South Korea military drills.

There is also no guarantee that North Korea would accept such a declaration, with the primary goal at this point being for the US and South Korea to persuade the country to sit down for talks.

“It is not yet transparant whether North Korea would respond to some degree in its relations with South Korea and the US in the future,” said Lee. “But North Korea seems to be trying to come out with its response strategies, while seeing follow-up responses with South Korea and the US.”

Trains exploding on railway tracks
The US and UN forces bombed North Korean supply trains during the war. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Military History Institute / Wikimedia Commons)

The hope is the three countries will be able to come together before Moon’s term as president ends in May 2022.

Clare Fitzgerald

Clare Fitzgerald is a Writer and Editor with eight years of experience in the online content sphere. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from King’s University College at Western University, her portfolio includes coverage of digital media, current affairs, history and true crime.

Among her accomplishments are being the Founder of the true crime blog, Stories of the Unsolved, which garners between 400,000 and 500,000 views annually, and a contributor for John Lordan’s Seriously Mysterious podcast. Prior to its hiatus, she also served as the Head of Content for UK YouTube publication, TenEighty Magazine.

In her spare time, Clare likes to play Pokemon GO and re-watch Heartland over and over (and over) again. She’ll also rave about her three Maltese dogs whenever she gets the chance.

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