North and South Korea found guilty of violating armistice agreements

North and South Korea found guilty of violating armistice agreements

Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-II – International Relations

In News:

• The UN Command, led by the United States, recently held both North and South Korea guilty of violating armistice agreements after a recent incident which involved gunfire along the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) between the two countries. 

About The Korean Armistice Agreement 

• The agreement brought about a complete cessation of hostilities of the Korean War.
• It was signed on 27 July 1953 by the United Nations Command (UNC), Korean People’s Army (KPA of North Korea) and the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army (PVA). 
• It was designed to ensure a complete termination of hostilities and of all acts of armed force in Korea until a final peaceful settlement is achieved.
• A final peace settlement has never been achieved.
• It also established the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the de facto new border between the two nations which put into force a cease-fire, and finalized the return of prisoners of war. 
• The DMZ runs close to the 38th parallel and has separated North and South Korea since the Agreement. 
• South Korea never signed the Agreement, due to its refusal to accept failure to unify Korea by force. 
• The UN Command oversees affairs pertaining to the DMZ, to ensure the terms of the armistice are being agreed upon by both North Korea and South Korea

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