The South Korean President stated that North Korea, South Korea, the US, and China agreed to formally end the Korean War. Here’s what the statement means.
Bringing of an end to the Korean War
In a joint conference with the Australian Prime Minister, the South Korean President stated that the four nations agreed to declare a formal end to the Korean War. The war lasted for three years between 1950 and 1953. The Armistice Agreement brought an end to the hostilities in July 1953. However, North and South Korea have technically remained at war ever since.
Engagement with North Korea has been an important part of South Korea’s foreign policy ever since Moon Jae-in became president. He has also been a very vocal supporter of calling an end to conflict and hostilities with Pyongyang. He had also argued that his declaration will help in encouraging North Korea to denuclearise. However, the US insisted that North Korea will have to give up the weapons for progress. Unfortunately, North Korea has not responded to US’ call for continuing dialogue.
Earlier in September 2021, Moon Jae-in addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He made his call for declaring an end to the Korean war. “I once again urge the community of nations to mobilize its strengths for the end-of-war declaration on the Korean Peninsula,” stated Moon. “I propose that three parties of the two Koreas and the U.S., or four parties of the two Koreas, the U.S., and China. Come together and declare that the War on the Korean Peninsula is over,” he added in his address.
The two nations have been warming up to relations since 2017. A Reuters report states that South Korean activists and defector groups were sending propaganda materials across the border in 2020. In response, North Korea blew up a joint liaison office at the border town of Kaesong. The blast was mere hours after renewing threats of military action at the border. The situation escalated leasing to a series of missile and long-range weapons testing.
End of the Korean War: North Korea’s take and response
Over the last few years, there have been significant developments in the DPRK-US relations, particularly during Donald Trump’s presidency. In June 2018, Kim Jong Un, the DPRK leader, and Trump met in Singapore for a historic summit where a North Korean leader met with a US president for the first time. They again met in Hanoi, merely months later. However, the summits were more of a photo opportunity than for discussing foreign policy.
In September 2021, Kim Yo Jong, the DPRK leader’s sister stated that ending the Korean war was on the table if conditions were met. Kim also stated that they were willing to restart talks if South Korea will bring an end to its “hostile policies”. “What needs to go is the double-dealing attitudes, illogical prejudice, bad habits, and hostile stand of justifying their acts while faulting our just exercise of the right to self-defense. Only when such a precondition is met, would it be possible to sit face to face and declare the significant terms of the war,” stated Kim, in an official statement released by the state media.
What will the future bring?
Unfortunately, analysts are not sure how far the situation will change for both nations. President Moon is nearing the end of his term and leaving office in May 2022. Despite his efforts, he has had little progress to show for the last five years. Additionally, according to a BBC report, the Biden administration is not very keen on Moon’s plans. After all, Washington will have to give up a lot more in comparison. Analysts also believe that the Biden administration’s lack of enthusiasm can adversely affect the US-South Korea alliance as a whole.
