North Korea silent on South Korean President's proposal for dialogue to officially end war

Seoul, Aug 16 (AHN) North Korea remained silent Sunday on South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's proposal to officially end the 1950-53 Korean War.

Lee proposed dialogue to formally end the Korean War and establish a peace regime during a Liberation Day address Saturday that marked the 81st anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule.

The two Koreas technically remain at war since the three-year conflict ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.

North Korean state media, such as the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and the Rodong Sinmun, however, did not carry any reports on Lee's address as of Sunday morning, reports Yonhap news agency.

They instead focused on reporting on commemorative events across the country on the occasion of the anniversary, such as people visiting statues of the country's late leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il to pledge their loyalty.

Lee's dialogue overture came despite the North remaining unresponsive to Seoul's repeated reconciliatory gestures since Lee took office in June last year.

He made the proposal in his speech at a ceremony marking the 81st Liberation Day, which commemorates Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule.

"Let us put down our intentions to threaten each other and begin discussions to end the long-running war as the directly involved parties," Lee said, adding, "In the process, (we) may also discuss effective ways to halt the advancement of the North's nuclear capabilities."

Lee said he will embark on a journey to end the war and replace the "unstable armistice system" with a peace regime.

In his Liberation Day speech last year, Lee pledged to respect North Korea's current system and not to pursue unification by absorption or engage in any hostile acts toward the North.

Despite Pyongyang's unresponsiveness, the Lee administration has pledged to consistently pursue dialogue with North Korea in pursuit of peaceful coexistence with the regime.