South Korea president proposes talks with Pyongyang to formally end Korean War

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung proposed talks with North Korea to formally end the long-running Korean War, as Pyongyang deepens ties with Russia while asserting its status as an "irreversible" nuclear state. The two Koreas remain technically at war because their 1950-53 conflict, triggered by a North Korean attack, ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty. Lee made the proposal in his speech at a ceremony marking the anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. "Let us put down our intentions to threaten each other and begin discussions to end the long-running war as the directly involved parties," Lee said in his speech. "Through this, it may also be possible to discuss effective measures to halt the advancement of North Korea's nuclear capabilities," he added. Read moreNorth Korea conducts second ballistic missile test in less than a week Lee's proposal came as North Korea this week denounced upcoming annual US-South Korean military drills, warning of stronger deterrence measures. Pyongyang has also recently been bristling over Japan's gradual military build-up in the Pacific – firing off two missiles in as many weeks after Tokyo pledged ...