V
March 1951 – 1953

In mid-1951, with the land battle in stalemate, both sides agreed to go to a conference begin armistice talks. They dragged on for two years. The main point they argued about was the future of the tens of thousands of communist prisoners held in camps on Koje Island off the coast of South Korea.

While the communist negotiators wanted all to be returned to their country of origin, thousands of prisoners were unwilling to be repatriated. There were several great mutinies in the Koje camps. In the end, those who wanted to be repatriated would be allowed to go home and while the others would go to an asylum.

In July 1953, thousands of former prisoners on each side were returned. A Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) was established on the border. Both sides withdrew from their fighting positions, and a UN commission was set up to supervise the armistice.

MacArthur was also sacked when he publicly criticised Truman’s order when Truman told MacArthur to stop.

In 1953, Eisenhower became the American president.

The Americans threatened to use the atomic bomb if China did not stop fighting. The Chinese agree to a truce, which was signed on 27 July 1953.

It is estimated that 10 million people died in the war - as many as died in the First World War.

-Sharmila.