North and South Korea Will Discuss The Possibility Of Ending The War, According To Insider

A peace treaty would officially end a war that has been waging for over 60 years.

According to a report by Munhwa Ilbo, an unnamed South Korean official has stated that North and South Korea are discussing the possibility of a permanent end to the military conflict between the two countries.

 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae In are expected to meet at a joint summit next week, and the two are rumored to be discussing a peace treaty.

 

If a peace treaty comes to fruition, it will end the war that has been waging between the two countries for over 60 years.

 

Although an armistice was signed in 1953 to end the fighting, the two countries are technically still at war because the conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

 

The last time North and South Korea were this close to peace was during the 2007 summit between former South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun and former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

Unfortunately, negotiations known as the “six-party talks” halted in 2008 when North Korea refused to allow international inspectors to visit nuclear facilities.

 

Successful negotiations could result in the withdrawal of troops from the DMZ (demilitarized zone), a heavily guarded border between the two countries.

 

A positive outcome of the summit would also be a step towards mending relations between the United States and North Korea. Kim Jong Un has already expressed his willingness discuss the possibility of denuclearization.

 

Meanwhile, initial talks between C.I.A. director Mike Pompeo and Kim Jong Un have been positive according to U.S. President Donald Trump.

 

Source: Munhwa Ilbo, CNBC, NY Times and Bloomberg