The war that has never truly ended

Most people know about the Korean War of 1950-53, but a lot fewer of them are likely to know that the war is still technically ongoing, 65 years later. The reason for this is that the war did not end with a peace deal, but rather an agreement to an armistice. More than that, South Korea were not even a signatory due to President Syngman Rhee’s refusal to accept its cementing of the division of the peninsula. Instead, the armistice agreement was signed between North Korea and United Nations Command, led by the United States.

Since the signing of the armistice, North Korea has announced it will no longer abide by it at least six times, in 1994, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2013, though they are yet to take any serious military action beyond antagonistic rhetoric.

With the summit between Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un held on April 27^th, a somewhat symbolic number as the armistice that ended the war was signed on July 27^th, arise new hopes of a permanent peace treaty to finally lay the Korean War to rest officially once and for all.