North, South Korea Reportedly Set to Announce Official End to War

Seoul and Pyongyang are reportedly set to make a huge step in the peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula, as officials from the two states are negotiating a joint statement outlining a formal end to hostilities, according to a report.

North and South Korea are in talks to announce a permanent end to the officially declared military conflict between the two countries, daily newspaper Munhwa Ilbo reported Tuesday, citing an unnamed South Korean official, World News reported.

Ahead of a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and the South's President Moon Jae-in, lawmakers from the neighboring states were thought to be negotiating the details of a joint statement that could outline an end to the confrontation.

Kim and Moon are scheduled to meet at inter-Korean summit in late April, and, according to the report, the date could put an end to more than half a century of confrontation. They could also discuss returning the heavily-fortified demilitarized zone separating them to its original state.

The North Korean leader had made a surprise visit to China in late March, in his first ever trip out of North Korea since coming into power in 2011. Kim and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing.

War broke out between the two Koreas in 1950, and they formally remain at war despite the de facto end of hostilities in 1953.
 (FNA)
 17/4/18