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South Korea marks armistice anniversary as many call for peace treaty

Frank Smith
Press TV, Seoul


South Korea marked the signing of the armistice agreement which ended the Korean War at a ceremony in Seoul Saturday. South Korea’s Prime Minister called for renewed efforts to build on recent negotiations.

The Armistice Agreement was signed on July 27, 1953, after 3 years of war devastated the Korean Peninsula and caused some 5 million deaths.
There had been suggestions the Armistice may be replaced with a peace treaty, but Washington has stuck to a hardline in negotiations with North Korea, demanding Pyongyang unilaterally relinquish its nuclear deterrent before lifting sanctions or providing other incentives.

Despite maintaining alliance relations with the Washington, Seoul has pursued engagement with North Korea, but those efforts have so far been undermined by the US pressure and sanctions policy. 

The anniversary of the signing of the armistice offers some hope in that the parties to the conflict could step back from open war. Recent missile tests by North Korea and upcoming joint US – South Korea military drills however, demonstrate the challenges of finding a stable peace for the Korean Peninsula. 


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