N. Korea silent on Lee's proposal for dialogue to officially end Korean War

SEOUL, August 16 (Yonhap) -- North Korea maintained its silence on South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's proposal to officially end the Korean War on Sunday. During a Liberation Day address on Saturday, which commemorated the 81st anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule, Lee suggested dialogue to formally conclude the three-year conflict and establish a peace regime.

However, North Korean state media outlets, including the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and the Rodong Sinmun, failed to publish any reports about Lee's speech by early Sunday. Instead, they concentrated on commemorating the occasion with events across the country, such as citizens visiting statues of the country's former leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il to pledge their allegiance.

Despite the lack of response from North Korea to South Korea's previous conciliatory actions since Lee assumed office in June of the previous year, the Lee administration remains committed to maintaining ongoing dialogue with the North in the pursuit of peaceful coexistence.