Prisoners of War Exchange
Dates: April 20th, 1953 – December 23rd, 1953
Prisoners of War were a big part of the peace negotiations, and a large sticking point for signing the Armistice. The biggest issue with this topic was the potential repatriation of Prisoners, specifically with the North Korean and Chinese soldiers that didn't wish to return to North Korea. Some of these Soldiers were South Koreans forced into service that wished to return to the Republic of Korea (South Korea). A few Chinese soldiers that were found to be former followers of Chiang Kai-shek objected to repatriation, wishing to be sent Taiwan. The United Nations Command (U.N.C.) refused to force any soldiers to repatriate, which conflicted with the North Korean and Chinese demands for exchange. U.N.C. negotiators came up with a three variations on voluntary repatriation, each following along similar lines. On October 8th 1952, chief U.N.C. negotiator Major General William K. Harrison announced a recess, do to the North Korean and Chinese’s refusal to accept anything other the full repatriation. This recess was to be held until one of these three proposals was met.
On March 5th, the soviet leader Josef Stalin passed away. Following this, relations between North and South Korea started to ease up. By late March, North Korea and China agreed to an exchange of wounded prisoners, a demand made by the U.N.C. that had previously been refused. This deal, dubbed operation “Little Switch”, began April 20th 1953 and went on until May 3rd. A total 684 soldiers were returned to the U.N. and 6908 people were returned to North Korea and China. On July 27th, both sides signed the Armistice, and by august they began operation “Big Switch”. By December 23rd, “Big Switch” had concluded returning 12,773 people to the U.N.C. and 75,823 North Korean and Chinese prisoners were returned to the Demilitarized Zone. The Prisoners that didn't wish to repatriate were taken under care of the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission, an organization established in the Armistice. Here they would stay for ninety days, while the government of their home countries could attempt to convince them to return.
The prisoners of war exchange was the biggest area of conflict during negotiations. By reaching an agreement on this issue, they had nothing left to prevent the signing of the Armistice. As well, they managed to develop a fair form of repatriation, allowing for soldiers who did not want to return to their home countries the ability to relocate to another nation. This way, conflict in Korea was halted and the vast majority of soldiers were transferred to areas with ideologies matching their own.
Prisoners of War were a big part of the peace negotiations, and a large sticking point for signing the Armistice. The biggest issue with this topic was the potential repatriation of Prisoners, specifically with the North Korean and Chinese soldiers that didn't wish to return to North Korea. Some of these Soldiers were South Koreans forced into service that wished to return to the Republic of Korea (South Korea). A few Chinese soldiers that were found to be former followers of Chiang Kai-shek objected to repatriation, wishing to be sent Taiwan. The United Nations Command (U.N.C.) refused to force any soldiers to repatriate, which conflicted with the North Korean and Chinese demands for exchange. U.N.C. negotiators came up with a three variations on voluntary repatriation, each following along similar lines. On October 8th 1952, chief U.N.C. negotiator Major General William K. Harrison announced a recess, do to the North Korean and Chinese’s refusal to accept anything other the full repatriation. This recess was to be held until one of these three proposals was met.
On March 5th, the soviet leader Josef Stalin passed away. Following this, relations between North and South Korea started to ease up. By late March, North Korea and China agreed to an exchange of wounded prisoners, a demand made by the U.N.C. that had previously been refused. This deal, dubbed operation “Little Switch”, began April 20th 1953 and went on until May 3rd. A total 684 soldiers were returned to the U.N. and 6908 people were returned to North Korea and China. On July 27th, both sides signed the Armistice, and by august they began operation “Big Switch”. By December 23rd, “Big Switch” had concluded returning 12,773 people to the U.N.C. and 75,823 North Korean and Chinese prisoners were returned to the Demilitarized Zone. The Prisoners that didn't wish to repatriate were taken under care of the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission, an organization established in the Armistice. Here they would stay for ninety days, while the government of their home countries could attempt to convince them to return.
The prisoners of war exchange was the biggest area of conflict during negotiations. By reaching an agreement on this issue, they had nothing left to prevent the signing of the Armistice. As well, they managed to develop a fair form of repatriation, allowing for soldiers who did not want to return to their home countries the ability to relocate to another nation. This way, conflict in Korea was halted and the vast majority of soldiers were transferred to areas with ideologies matching their own.