Scenario: A tenacious military conflict in East Asia has left tens of thousands of soldiers
dead, wounded or missing on both sides (two small countries formerly one nation--each
side aided by a global power). In addition, both sides hold large numbers of prisoners of
war. Difficult negotiations have finally achieved a breakthrough--the sick and wounded
prisoners have been exchanged. With this positive step, the two warring sides are close
to achieving a cease-fire. The president of one of the two small countries (an ally of the
United States) has made it very clear that he will not accept an armistice unless the other
side’s soldiers disarm (and their allies leave the area). He has also given warnings that he
might take action as he sees fit to protect his country. Suddenly, the same president
(noncommunist) orders the nighttime release of more than 25,000 communist prisoners
who quickly blended into the countryside. The release was a desperate attempt to prevent
the conclusion of a truce. The United States and its other allies are stunned and move
quickly to reign in the president with offers of a mutual defense treaty. The Communist
side, meanwhile, has agreed to conclude an armistice despite the prisoners’ release.
This scenario is based on an incident that occurred in June 1953 near the end of the
Korean War. The two sides were the United States, its UN allies and South Korea vs.
North Korea and its ally Communist China. It was the president of South Korea, Dr.
Syngman Rhee, who unilaterally ordered the release of the North Korean prisoners--
prisoners who did not want to be forcibly repatriated to their homeland.
Introduction
Diplomatic communication can be of great importance before and during crises.
Communication can make the difference between peace and war as well as life and death-
-of people and nations. This paper is the fourth in a series of case studies which analyze
communication among U.S. diplomats during times of crisis. The focus of this paper is
the role of U.S. diplomatic communication during the period of April 1953 through the
release of the North Korean prisoners in June 1953.
Research methodology involved analysis of the Foreign Relations of the United States
(FRUS) series, official military history publications, U.S. Department of State Dispatch,
telephone records from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, the Public Papers
of Dwight D. Eisenhower, memoirs of selected participants, and other books.
North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950. President Harry Truman ordered U.S.
military forces to assist South Korea; in addition, other members of the United Nations
fought alongside South Korea and the United States against North Korea, which was soon
aided by Communist China. The war raged up and down the peninsula, and eventually
the two sides reached a stalemate at positions very near the original boundary of the two
Koreas. Truce negotiations between the two sides lasted nearly two years.
In February 1953, the UN side again proposed the exchange of sick and wounded
prisoners of war (Sandler 30). Suddenly Stalin died on March 5, and the Soviet Union
Convention