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Armistice Timeline

Korean War Armistice Timeline

 

1950

 

 

 

June 25

Korean war erupts.

At USA’s request, the UN Security Council meets and passes Resolution 82 calling for a cessation of hostilities and North Korea to withdraw above the 38th Parallel

June 27

President Truman announces decision made at Blair House on 25 and 26 June: he is sending U.S. armed forces to assist the forces of the Republic of Korea ("ROK") in repelling the DPRK (North Korea) forces.

 

A few hours later the UN Security Council Resolution 83 recommends members to furnish assistance to the ROK

June 29

General Douglas McArthur flies from Tokyo to Suwon to assume command.

July 7

UN Security Council Resolution 84 recommends members providing military forces and other assistance to make such forces and other assistance available to a unified command under the United states of America.

 August 17

US announces in UN its goal of a unified, anti-Communist Korea.

1951

 

June 23

Soviet Ambassador to the UN, Jacob Malik calls for a ‘ceasefire and an armistice providing for the mutual withdrawal of forces from the 38th parallel.

June 30

Lieutenant-General Matthew Ridgway broadcasts first American overture for peace talks.

July 5

USA Army Operations Division produces a memorandum recommending use of the atomic bomb if there was a deadlock in the talks.

July 8

Peace talks commence at Kaesong

July 26

Agenda for peace talks agreed upon

August 19

Peace talks suspended

October 25

Peace talks resume at Panmunjom

1952

 

February 17

 Agreement reached that within three months after the armistice a Political Conference be held to discuss the withdrawal of foreign troops and a peaceful settlement – i.e.. re-unification

November 20

President Elect Eisenhower secretly flies to Korea on fact finding mission

1953

 

April 26

Talks resume at Panmunjom

June 8

Terms of Reference, regulating POW repatriation signed

July 19

Delegates reach agreement at Panjmunon

July 26

President Eisenhower announces an Armistice in Korea

July 27

Armistice signed at Panjmunjon.

Syngman Rhee President of ROK refuses to sign.

August

Secretary of State Foster Dulles signs a Mutual Defence Treaty in Seoul, giving direct control of the ROK Army to the US and committing the USA to maintain troops in South Korea. This was contrary to Article IV, Clause 60 of the Armistice Agreement.

October 25

Tripartite pre-Political Conference talks start at Panjmunjon.

December 12

USA walks out of talks.

Political Conference of a higher level of both sides be held by representatives appointed respectively to settle through negotiation the questions of the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Korea, the peaceful settlement of the Korean question, etc.,’  as recommended by the Armistice Agreement was never held.

1954

 

January 25

Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov proposes that a five power international conference be held to deal with tensions in Asia.

April 26

Geneva Conference on Korea commences

May 8

Failing to reach agreement on Korea, discussion turns to Vietnam

June 15

The USSR and China submit declarations in support of a unified, democratic, independent Korea, and that negotiations to that end should resume at an appropriate time.

Geneva Conference on Korea finishes

1958

Last Chinese troops leave Korea

2012

28,500 US troops remain in South Korea

 

The above time line has been drawn from the following sources:

 

John Halliday and Bruce Cumings. Korea the Unknown war. Penguin Books  1998.  ISBN 10987654321

 

Martin Hart Landsberg. Korea – Division, Reunification, & US Foreign Policy.  Monthly Review Press. 1998.  ISBN  0-85345-928-2

 

Zhai Qiang. The China Quarterly, No.129 March 1992  Pp 103 – 122. http://vi.uh.edu/pages/buzzmat/vnarticles/zhaiqiangchinageneva54.pdf

 

http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/koreanwar/timeline.html

 

http://www.shmoop.com/korean-war/timeline.html

 

 If you find any factual inaccuracy in this time line, please email with supporting data and web references to:

 

  NZDPRKSociety@gmail.com