HONG KONG -- Sunday is the 50th anniversary of the signing of a document that has lasted much longer than expected and has had a profound influence on the course of modern Asian history.
By July 27, 1953, full-scale hostilities in the Korean War had lasted for three years and one month, although protracted negotiations for a truce had been proceeding for two-thirds of that time. In a hurriedly built hall in the truce village of Panmunjom at 10:01 a.m., the two chief negotiators, North Korea's Gen. Nam Il and the U.S. Lt.-Gen. William Harrison, began signing 18 copies, six each in English, Korean and Chinese, of the "Agreement Between the Commander in Chief, United Nations Command, on the one hand, and the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and the Commander of the Chinese People's Volunteers, on the other hand, concerning a Military Armistice in Korea."
The principal signatories were not there. Typical of their negotiating style, the North Koreans insisted upon two extra conditions at the last minute. No South Korean was to attend the ceremony in any capacity. No Nationalist Chinese newsman was to be allowed into Panmunjom on that day. The United Nations Command (UNC) rejected both demands. So the communist leaders stayed at home.
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