The Korean Armistice Agreement, signed on July 27, 1953, in Panmunjom within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), officially stopped active hostilities and ended the Korean War. The agreement was signed by William K. Harrison Jr. for the United Nations Command, Nam Il for the Korean People’s Army and Chinese People’s Volunteer Army, and Peng Dehuai for the Chinese forces. It established the DMZ, enacted a cease-fire, and allowed prisoners of war to choose repatriation. The agreement took effect 12 hours after signing, concluding the conflict that began in 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea with Soviet support, escalating into a Cold War flashpoint involving the U.S., China, and the Soviet Union. The Korean Peninsula remains divided along the 38th parallel.

Learn More:

• 71 Year Reflection (2024): VFW
• Armistice Agreement: National Archives
• Casualty Report: Defense Casualty Analysis System
• Korean Armistice Agreement: Wikipedia Entry
• Korean War Chronology: U.S. Army Center of Military History
• Korean War: History.com
• Korean War: National Archives
• Korean War: Wikipedia Entry

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