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SEOUL — South Korea has "effectively" agreed with the United States on a draft declaring the end of the Korean War, according to South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, as reported by South Korea's Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.
Speaking at a news conference, Chung said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had reaffirmed the progress, saying that both sides have "effectively reached an agreement" on the draft.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson said the U.S. has "no hostile intent" toward North Korea and is prepared to meet "without preconditions."
"We hope the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) will respond positively to our outreach. We continue to consult closely with the Republic of Korea, Japan, and other allies and partners about how to best engage the DPRK," the spokesperson said.
The draft aims to end the Korean War, which broke out on June 25, 1950, when North Korean forces stormed across the 38th parallel dividing North and South Korea.
The United States supplied about 90% of the troops who were sent to aid South Korea, spending around $67 billion on the war.
An armistice signed on July 27, 1953, stopped the conflict, but the war never officially ended because there was no peace treaty.
In September, North Korean Vice Minister Ri Thae Song said South Korea's call to declare an end to the Korean War is "premature" due to "U.S. hostile policy" toward Pyongyang.
