Although the Korean War “ended,” North and South Korea never declared an end to the war, which means that the war has now been going for 68 years. Fortunately, there are signs, albeit minor ones, that that could soon change:
North and South Korean officials are discussing an end to the military conflict that has existed between the two nations for the last 68 years, Bloomberg News reports.
An unnamed South Korean official told a local newspaper that a direct line between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could be established by the end of the week and that the two leaders may release a joint statement officially ending the conflict at a summit next week.
I’m not sure how the United States government will react to one of its forward operating bases burying the hatchet with one of its boogeymen but for everybody else this would be great news. Ending the war could open the border between the two countries, which could bring a great deal of trade. South Korean goods could filter into North Korea while North Korean labor, which already trickles into South Korea, could flow into South Korea in greater quantities. Both sides would be enriched by the market activity, which could allow North Korea to overcome its economic woes (such as struggling to feed its people) and ease the iron grip its government has over its people (which is partially justified by the state of war that continues to exist between the two countries).
Who would have thought Donald Fucking Trump would be the man to manage bringing this war to a potential end. And to do it by making fun of a dictator on Twitter and threatening trade wars with China. Of course the Syrian airstrikes and that little spat in February where a battalion of Russian “mercs” were wiped out in seconds trying to attack one of our positions, might have reemphasized the military disparity.
I honestly don’t think Trump had much to do with this. I think South Korea was the major player here. The two Koreas have been warming to each other for quite a while and labor has even been crossing the border between the two countries.