Ceasefire Agreement and the Desk
Representative artifact of the War Memorial symbolizing the ceasefire agreement of the Korean War
The Table on which the Armistice Agreement was signedWar Memorial of Korea
There is a special desk that represents the armistice at the Korean War Room Ⅱ of the War Memorial. It was recognized for its value in representing the armistice, and thus designated as Registered Cultural Artifact 464 in 2010.
U.S Army guardsman standing outside Panmunjom (1953-07-27)Original Source: NARA / National Institute of Korean History
The ceasefire agreement of the Korean War
Since the outbreak of the Korean War on June 25, 1950, talks for a truce between the UN and Communist Forces began in July of 1951.
Greek Corporal Konstantinos Kargakos, a member of the UN Honor Guard during the signing of the Korean armistice, stands on duty (1953-07-27)Original Source: NARA / National Institute of Korean History
The two sides debated fiercely over the military demarcation line and return of prisoners for the next two years, and finally, on July 27, 1953, the ceasefire agreement was signed.
News media photographers covering the signing ceremony of the Armistice Agreement in Panmunjom (1953-07-27)Original Source: NARA / National Institute of Korean History
The ceasefire agreement was first signed by the representatives of the two sides at Panmunjom, which was then signed by UN Commander Clark at 1 p.m. It was then signed by the North Korean Supreme Commander Kim Il-sung at 10 p.m. On the next day at 9:30 a.m., the agreement was signed by the Chinese Army's Commander Peng Dehuai in Kaesong, and the ceasefire agreement became effective 12 hours after the representatives of the two sides signed the agreement at 10 a.m. on July 27, 1953, at 10 p.m.
Signing of the Armistice Agreement (1953-07-27)Original Source: NARA / the National Library of Korea
At 10 a.m. on July 27, 1953, US Army Lt. General William Harrison's team for the UN and North Korean General Nam Il's team for the Communists met at Panmunjom to sign a total of 18 copies of the armistice agreement composed of five articles and 63 provisions written in Korean, English, and Chinese.
To the left is the UN's chief representative Lt. General Harrison,
To the right is Communist chief representative General Nam Il signing the armistice agreement.
General Mark. W. Clark signs the Armistice agreement at Munsan, Korea (1953-07-27)Original Source: NARA / National Institute of Korean History
Later that day at 1 p.m., UN Commander General Clark, who was waiting at Munsan, signed the armistice agreement.
The desk that was used in Munsan during the ceasefire negotiations was donated by the US Army to the war memorial project on July 30, 1993, after 40 years. The desk on display at the Korean War Room Ⅱ is this desk.
The ROK-US Combined Forces Command Deputy Chief of Staff and Air Force Major General Nels Running visited Korea to attend the donation ceremony, and this was captured in these photos.
Tap to explore
If you visit the War Memorial, make sure to look for this special desk and take a look at how the ceasefire agreement was concluded.
Planning/Editing/Host: Jung Seo-hee
Reference: 'Commentary of the War Memorial of Korea' War Memorial of Korea, 2020, 'Memories of that Day in the Eyes of the War Memorial Archives, Desk that Symbolizes the Ceasefire Agreement', 'War Memorial of Korea', vol.174, 2020.7.
