South KoreaÂ’s president on Tuesday called for a summit with the United States, North Korea and China to formally end the war that has split the Korean peninsula for over 50 years.
President Roh Moo-hyun said such a meeting would help international efforts to scrap the NorthÂ’s nuclear weapons programme and the conclusion of a peace treaty to replace the fraying armistice that ended the 1950-1953 Korean War.
“In order to push for the prompt nuclear dismantlement of North Korea and the conclusion of a peace treaty, the leaders of the concerned countries need to make a joint declaration and set up a definite milestone,” Roh said in a speech in Busan. Roh proposed calling the meeting the: “Four-Party Summit Declaration for Ending the War and Constructing a Peace Regime on the Korean Peninsula.” Political analysts have said Roh is pressing for a summit to secure his political legacy, but stands little chance of brokering the first-ever meeting between the leaders of the United States and North Korea - two long-time foes.
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