This week in history

July 27, 1953, the Korean Armistice Agreement was sighed formally ending the Korean War. The signing took place following the longest negotiated armistice in history. 158 meetings over a two-year, 17-day period. The Korean Armistice Agreement is and exception; it is purely a military document. It contains five primary points, and it is not a permanent peace treaty between nations.

Today, approximately 26,000 United States Military personnel are stationed in South Korea as a deterrent. South Korea has approximately 450,000 active military personnel and 3.1 million Reservists. Under North Korea leadership there have been many antagonistical actions against civilians and military personnel in the south. The north has an active nuclear weapons program that dates back to the 1960’s. Estimates are that North Korea has 50 nuclear warheads and is developing and refining ballistic missiles.

Source(s): National Archives & Armscontrol.org

Compiled by Bob Valen