Remembering the Forgotten War: Korea, 1950-1953
The armistice ending hostilities in Korea took more than two
years to negotiate. The main issues centered around three topics:
1) the Communist demand that all foreign troops withdraw from
the Korean peninsula, 2) the disagreement over the placement of
the line dividing North and South Korea, and 3) the repatriation
of prisoners of war. The third issue would prove the most difficult
to solve. Both sides finally reached an agreement in July 1953.
Because the supreme commanders did not wish to meet, the chief
negotiators signed a preliminary document at the "Peace Tent"
at Panmunjom, followed by a formal signing by each commander at
his headquarters hours later.
The Press Train
Hugh Cabot #33
Watercolor, 1952
88-187-AG
Keeping up a full head of steam for one year, the press train
in Musan-ni was one of the most efficient and well-coordinated
assets to the entire peace conference. Housing some of the world's
finest war correspondents, primarily men of the various international
wire services, the train served as a communications center, berthing
quarter, messing facility, supply point and information center
for the entire world on all news in all media regarding the truce
talks. Located in a shabby Korean village, a prominent rail point
in peactime, completely destroyed by the explosion of an ammunition
train of its kind, the press train will always be a part of every
correspondent military and civilian alike who covered the Korean
War. (Musan-ni, Chosen)
Kaesong Tea House
Herbert C. Hahn #27
Pencil, 1950s
88-191-AB
The site of the first Truce Talks, just below the 38th parallel.
Peace Tent Panmunjom
Hugh Cabot #120
Pencil, 1951
88-187-DQ
After a three month suspension, armistice talks resumed on October
25, 1951 in a conference tent in Panmunjon, a village near Kaesong.
The talks would drag on until July 27, 1953, punctuated by protests
and suspensions. Meanwhile the fighting on the battlefront continued,
though by this time both sides were so firmly entrenched, little
territory was gained by either.
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