As President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un make their final preparations ahead of their summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, a group of eighteen Democratic lawmakers are calling for a formal end to the Korean War.
Led by Rep. Ro Khanna, California Democrat, the lawmakers have proposed a resolution that encourages Mr. Trump to seek a final peace settlement between North and South Korea.
Mr. Khanna, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, highlighted the “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to formally end the war which is in its 68th year.
“President Trump must not squander this rare chance for peace,” Mr. Khanna said in a statement Tuesday. “He should work hand in hand with our ally, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, to bring the war to a close and advance toward the denuclearization of the peninsula.”
In 1953, the Korean War ended with an armistice, rather than a peace treaty which means the conflict is still ongoing.
The resolution details that formally declaring an end to the war does not acknowledge North Korea as a legitimate nuclear power or call for a withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Korean peninsula, and encourages the White House to continue efforts to retrieve the remains of U.S. service members.
During the Vietnam summit, Mr. Kim is likely to seek relief from President Trump on U.S.-imposed economic sanctions, and a possible declaration to end the war.
• Lauren Toms can be reached at lmeier@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.