Could North Korea and South Korea finally end their war? Reports say yes

Jessica Durando | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption North and South Korea may soon announce the official end to their war South and North Korea are discussing plans to announce an official end to the military conflict between the two countries that are still technically at war, the Munhwa Ilbo newspaper reported, citing an unidentified South Korean official.

Could the rival Koreas declare peace soon to their nearly 70-year confrontation?

North and South Korea are reportedly set to announce an official end to the 1950-1953 Korean War that technically finished with a truce — and not a peace treaty, according to South Korea's daily newspaper Munhwa Ilbo.

The newspaper, citing an unnamed South Korean official, reports that lawmakers from North and South Korea are negotiating a joint statement that could focus on a path to the end of the war.

The move comes ahead of next week's summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Moon said Tuesday that the denuclearization of North Korea is the most pressing task facing the South and vowed to establish permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, according to Yonhap news agency.

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"The complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is the most urgent task that lies before us and a task we must complete peacefully," Moon said while attending a Buddhist service.

The April 27 summit between Moon and Kim is scheduled to take place in the border village of Panmunjom. That summit is expected to be followed by a historic meeting between Kim and President Trump — the first meeting between two sitting leaders of North Korea and the United States.