July 27: Armistice in Korea
Prayer Idea
Pray that people in Korea and elsewhere would be able, with God’s help, to break down the literal and figurative walls that divide them.
Map by Peter Hermes Furian / Shutterstock.com.
History Note
The Korean people suffered for decades under Japanese occupation before World War II. At the end of the war, the Soviet Union occupied the northern part of the country, and the United States occupied the southern part. This was meant to be a temporary transitional period before Koreans took control of their own affairs again.
Disagreement between the Soviet Union and the United States and between Koreans in the north and south led to the establishment of two separate countries in 1948: The Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea). In June of 1950 North Korea attacked South Korea in an effort to unify the peninsula.
North Korea received support from the Soviet Union and from China. The new United Nations organization condemned the attack by North Korea and authorized a military response, which was led by the United States. Twenty-one other countries sent combat forces or medical assistance to South Korea.
After almost a year of heavy fighting, the two sides reached a stalemate around the 38th parallel of latitude. Peace negotiations continued for two years. On July 27, 1953, the opposing armies finally signed an armistice. This agreement halted the fighting. However, North Korea and South Korea never signed a permanent peace treaty.
Since 1953 the two sides have maintained strongly-fortified borders. The area is known as the "Demilitarized Zone” (DMZ), but it is one of the most heavily-militarized areas in the world.
This photo shows representatives signing the armistice agreement on July 27, 1953. Photo courtesy the U.S. Department of Defense.
The United States dedicated its Korean War Veterans Memorial on July 27, 1995, in Washington, D.C.
Learn More
This video discusses the 20th century history of Korea and shows modern footage of the DMZ.
Find more resources at Homeschool History.
