In recent years, there seems to be a growing number of voices talking about the need to sign a peace treaty that will formally end the Korean War – which was technically merely interrupted by the 1953 Armistice treaty.

The logic behind demands for a formal peace treaty at first glance seems quite persuasive: According to well-established legal traditions, every “proper” war should be ended by a proper peace treaty. A ceasefire agreement that has remained intact for 70 years is an aberration indeed.

North Korea has been pushing for a formal end to the war for quite some time.