Is the War Between North and South Korea Finally Over?

Graham Pierrepoint

In a week or so where world news appears to be edging ever-closer to the concept of a second Cold War, it has been altogether rather quiet on the North Korea front. The country’s leader, Kim Jong-Un, had of course engaged in a number of infamous back-and-forths with US President Donald Trump – to the point where many people were likely shuffling around uncomfortably, wondering quite where everything could possibly lead. In recent times, however, despite having overseen further nuclear testing months ago, Mr Kim appears to be making the news for alternative reasons. He has not only reached out and stated that he will meet with President Trump to discuss matters – but he has also made a surprise diplomatic visit to China, whom Pyongyang will likely be wanting to solidify as an important ally in the East.

The news gets even more surprising this week, it would seem, as various media outlets are leading with reports that South and North Korea could be set to call an official end to a war between the two nations that has officially endured since 1950. That’s 68 years since the neighboring nations were first at conflict with one another – and while the Korean War ended to the extent that a truce was accepted, an official treaty was never delivered. This has, in part, helped to contribute to tensions between the nations across the decades – and, with a summit due to take place between either side of Korea, it seems that negotiations are underway to bring a firm conclusion to a military conflict which was all but over six decades ago.

North Korea and South Korea have thus far avoided any further conflict since the war was brought to its knees with a truce – however, the looming ‘unfinished’ conflict overhead has certainly not helped with international relations between the countries. North Korea, since then, has continued to raise infamy as a reclusive state with internationally-criticized human rights records – while South Korea itself has faced corruption scandals at the top up the top of the political tower. Therefore, a potential ceasefire – perhaps being brought into effect to essentially cool relations between the countries – is very interesting news indeed. It is the latest in a series of somewhat positive news regarding Kim Jong-Un – and while his regime remains unchanged and the future of nuclear testing unclear at best, this move could open more doors to further international discourse in future.