Chung Dong-young: "Separated Family Reunions Require an End to the War" ... South Korean and U.S. Leaders Share View on Ending the Armistice Agreement

[Financial News] Minister Chung Dong-young emphasized that the inter-Korean armistice status must end for separated families to reunite.
At the 4th Day of Separated Families event held on September 23 at THE PLAZA Seoul, Autograph Collection in Jung-gu, Seoul, Minister Chung said the South Korean and U.S. leaders were finding common ground on ending the armistice status between the two Koreas.
Minister Chung said, "President Lee Jae Myung attended the UN General Assembly and delivered a speech calling on South Korea, North Korea, the United States, and China to begin discussions to end the Korean Peninsula's longstanding state of war and establish a permanent peace regime."
He continued, "The root of the separated families issue is the longstanding state of war mentioned by the president," adding, "Only by ending it will exchanges, travel between the two Koreas, and meetings become possible."
Minister Chung also said that a rare opportunity had emerged to end the armistice status that has lasted for 73 years. He identified U.S. President Donald Trump as the person currently raising awareness of the issue.
Minister Chung said, "At a press conference following the summit last October, President Trump said, 'You are officially at war.' He said he would work to change this."
He also emphasized the importance of four-party talks, saying, "In May, the leaders of China and Russia met in Beijing and issued a joint statement that said they would play a constructive role in building a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula."
[email protected] Kim Kyung-soo Reporter