President Lee Calls for Replacing Armistice with Sustainable Peace Framework

In a speech to members of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, President Lee Jae‑myung reminded the audience that the 1953 armistice ended active fighting but never produced a formal peace treaty. He argued that the outdated cease‑fire arrangement fuels periodic clashes and undermines development.

Lee proposed a three‑pillar strategy—inclusive, stable, and responsible—to guide future inter‑Korean relations. The plan calls for mutual respect, joint economic projects, and a shared security framework that reduces the risk of accidental hostilities.

He concluded that transforming the armistice into a durable peace settlement will require both sides to abandon zero‑sum thinking and to cooperate on issues ranging from denuclearisation to humanitarian exchange.