South Korea Proposes Four-Party Talks to End Korean War

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has publicly proposed four-party talks with North Korea, the United States, and China to formally end the Korean War and discuss limits on Pyongyang's nuclear program. The proposal, delivered in a national address, comes as U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with Seoul, citing his good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

President Lee called for replacing the 1953 armistice with a formal peace framework and exploring ways to slow or halt North Korea's nuclear advances. He framed the initiative as a practical, step-by-step process aimed at reducing the risk of miscalculation and easing daily military tensions near the border and at sea. South Korean officials have floated a peace declaration as an early step to restart dialogue and create guardrails against crisis.

The outreach occurs against a backdrop of domestic political division and a cold shoulder from Pyongyang. North Korea has recently rejected Seoul's overtures and accused Lee of staying too close to Washington. Inside South Korea, conservatives argue that engagement is too weak and have pushed for a tougher military...