- 2 sides were able to agree on armistice ⇒ July 1953.
- While this was only agreement to end fighting → it was not an official peace treaty.
- Main issue of armistice talks → were return of the POWs and border between North and South Korea
- Est. there were 90000 South Korean POWs, 8000 UN POWs, 100000 North Korean POWs.
- Many POWs → died in captivity
- Small no. of UN and South Korean POWs → opted to remain in North Korea or China → while much larger population of North korean troops → tried to stay in South Korea.
- Theory → issue of POWs → settled in armistice talks.
- However there was suspicion on both sides → about whether all POWs → had been returned
- Many returning POWs → reported → they were treated with suspicion → because of the fear that they had been brainwashed → by enemy → and would act against home country
- Pertinently → armistice talks → entailed deciding on the border → between North and South Korea.
- While communists → wanted division of Korea → to be at 38th Parallel → UN and South korea disagreed
- wanted the division to be along battle lines established between 2 sides.
- to settle the issue of the border → the DMZ was created between North and South Korea.
- Both sides agreed → move their troops back → about 2km → from the border → now known as Military Demarcation line
- they would keep this zone free of troops or any military presence
- Since then → there have been numerous incidents → with shots being exchanged between 2 side → but war has not resumed.
- nevertheless → DMZ → still exists + border between North and South korea remains teh most militarised in the world today