William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital

Battle of JangJin (Chosin) Reservoir Commemoration at the Korean National War Museum, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Nov. 10, 2010. The commemoration, which served to strengthen the R.O.K. and United States alliance, honored Korean War veterans from both countries and educated the public of their sacrifice during this major battle of the war Photographer's Name: Lance Cpl. Alejandro Date Shot: 11/10/2010

The Korean War (1950-1953) ended with an armistice signed on July 27, 1953.

The Korean War Armistice was the agreement between the Commander-in-Chief of the United Nations on one side and the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army along with  the Commander of the Chinese People's volunteers on the other side.  Because no peace treaty was ever signed, this armistice is the one thing that prevents North Korea and the US - along with South Korea - from re-starting the war.

In 1952 , US elected a new president, and on the 29th of November 1952, that elected president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, went to Korea to learn what might end the Korean War. When the armistice was signed on 27 July 1953, discussions had already been going on for two years.  Two of the  sensitive issues that  needed to be negotiated were the trade of prisoners of war and the location of a demarcation line.

The armistice was only supposed to be a temporary measure. The war is considered to have ended at this point, even though there was no peace treaty. The document signed by US Lieutenant General William K Harrison and the leader of North Korea’s army, General Nam Il, said it was going in the direction of a break in fighting "until a final peaceful settlement is achieved". However, that settlement never came and a conference in Geneva in 1954 which was designed to come up with a formal peace treaty ended without agreement.

The armistice provided for:

• A temporary ending of any open fighting
• A permanent demarcation line with a four kilometer (2.4 mile) buffer zone - the so-called no-military zone
• A method for the transfer of prisoners of war

Both sides agreed not to "carry out any hostile act within, from, or against the no-military zone" or enter areas under control of the other. The agreement also called for the beginning of the Military Armistice Commission (MAC) and other organizations to make sure the peace was maintained.