Koreas could declare end of war next week

By Kim Bo-eun

Questions are being raised over how the upcoming inter-Korean summit will pave the way for a declaration ending the Korean War, after a reference to the subject was made by the White House this week.

The 1950-1953 War ended in an armistice, leaving the Koreas still at war. U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that the Koreas will discuss the matter in their summit, and Cheong Wa Dae's confirmation of the agenda has drawn attention to how South and North Korea and involved states will address it.

Ending of the Korean War is directly related to the main agendas of the inter-Korean summit ― which are North Korea's denuclearization, achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula and developing inter-Korean relations.

Cheong Wa Dae said earlier this week the likely scenario is that South and North Korea reach an agreement on putting an end to the war at their summit, and conclude the deal in the North's summit with the U.S.

Trump's statement that he “gives his blessing” to South and North Korea's discussions of the matter is viewed as the U.S. supporting the idea of ending the war on the Korean Peninsula.

Leaders of the Koreas and the U.S. may meet after the Pyongyang-Washington summit ― an idea South Korean President Moon Jae-in proposed earlier.

Moon's remark was viewed as being part of the big picture of signing a peace treaty with the states involved.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping is reported to have proposed a four-nation peace treaty to Trump last month, in what was seen as a move to be included in the process.

The proposal was seen as suggesting the peace treaty replace the armistice signed by North Korea, China and the UN.

The idea of a three or four-nation summit to address the matter of putting an end to the Korean War is in a joint statement drawn up in the second inter-Korean summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's father Kim Jong-il and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun in 2007.

“We agree that we should put an end to the current state of armistice and establish a lasting system of peace, and to cooperate so the leaders of the three or four directly-involved countries meet on the Korean Peninsula to declare the end of the war,” the statement says.

If a three or four-nation peace treaty is reached, it would come after the Pyongyang-Washington talks, which is slated for May or June.

Speculation is that a statement declaring the end of the Korean War could be made on July 27, the date the armistice between the Koreas was signed in 1953. It would be significant in that the end of the Korean War is declared marking the 65th anniversary of the armistice.

The declaration could be made at the truce village of Panmunjeom, the symbolic location where the armistice was signed.

Another possible venue could be the UN headquarters in New York ― as it would be meaningful for the states involved to declare the end of the Korean War at the international organization seeking global peace.