Answering the Korea Question: US Government Policy Toward the Unified Command and the Korean Armistice Agreement
Abstract
Since the 1950 invasion of the Republic of Korea by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, United States policy has been to provide leadership over the collective security commitment to the Republic of Korea by the International Community and to maintain friendly force compliance to the 1953 Armistice Agreement. The strategic geopolitical conditions of the 1950s have evolved, with the United States and Republic of Korea political, economic and security relationships advancing far beyond the imagination and aspirations of leaders in the 1940s and 1950s. This paper proposes that the United States Government conduct a formal review of its current and future national interests in both the unified command (United Nations Command) and the Armistice Agreement. In addition, this paper offers insights to United States Government decision makers on options and alternatives that are available so that a future policy change is nested within its wider Indo-Asia-Pacific national interests and policies. Change is both constant and inevitable, therefore, it is better for the United States Government to be active in designing and managing a conclusion in lieu of waiting for other stakeholders or inertia to drive an unmanaged end state.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 03, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1078448
Entities
People
- Shawn P. Creamer
Organizations
- United States Army War College