North Korea says hope is alive for peace, summit with the South
- The comment comes after North Korea urged the US and South Korea to abandon a ‘hostile policy’ before talks can be held on ending the 1950-53 Korean war
- The 1950-1953 Korean war ended with an armistice not a peace treaty, leaving US-led UN forces technically still at war with North Korea
North Korea is willing to consider another inter-Korean summit if mutual respect between the rivals can be assured, state news agency KCNA reported on Saturday, citing Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The comment comes just a day after North Korea urged the United States and South Korea to abandon what it called their hostile policy and double standards towards it before formal talks can be held on ending the 1950-53 Korean war.
The 1950-1953 Korean war ended with an armistice not a peace treaty, leaving US-led UN forces technically still at war with North Korea.
The question of formally ending the war has been complicated by North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.
“I think that only when impartiality and the attitude of respecting each other are maintained, can there be smooth understanding between the North and the South,” Kim Yo-jong said.
Constructive discussions offer the a chance for meaningful and successful solutions to issues including “the re-establishment of the north-south joint liaison office and the north-south summit, to say nothing of the timely declaration of the significant termination of the war”, Kim said.