History of Korea

PRISONERS OF WAR

Between October 25, 1951 to October 8, 1951, the major issue that stalled the negotiations was about the fate of the POWs. The United States wanted the POWs to have the freedom to choose if they wanted to be repatriated or not. North Korea, however, did not believe that the POWs really had the "freedom" to choose. In South Korea camps, POWs were often killed by anti-Communist guards. There was, in fact, a "mini-war" within the camps between the pro-Communist and anti-communist prisoners and guards. Violence, murder, and torture occured everyday toward each group. In fact, those who wanted to be repatriated would be targeted by anti-communist prisoners or guards. Therefore, in many ways, those who wanted to be repatriated were too often intimated and were not truly given the freedom to choose to be repatriated or not. Under such conditions, did the prisoners really have the freedom to choose? Hence, North Korean government were admant about repatriating all POWs, in accordance to the Geneva Convention of 1949.

Both sides were guilty of mistreating the POWs. Syngman Rhee's government during the communist advancement into South Korea, killed and executed hundreds of POWs. North Korean units as well, executed hundreds of POWs.

The treatment of POWs varied from camp to camp. The total death of American POWs was about 2,700. Some prisoners froze to death, died from malnutrition or killed by prison guards or other prisioners. But some Americans testify that they were treated fairly decently. But United States accused North Koreans of using intimation and torture to extract confessions about war crimes committed by U.S forces and to force American prisoners to deny repatriation.

In South Korean POW camps. 6,600 prisoners were killed, died of malnutrition or the lack of medical attention, and infection of diseases. The conditions were so poor that prisoners began protesting against mistreatment in Koje island on June of 1951. Another rebellion developed on May of 1952. On May 7, 1952, the Koje prisoners captured Commandant Brigadier Dodd and forced him to sign a confession that the prisoners were indeed mistreated. In one year, 115 prisoners died from rioting.

The two sides eventually agreed to allow voluntary repatriation. Hence, the basic POW issue was settled by June of 1953. However, President Syngman Rhee, who was unsatisfied with the armistice agreement, ordered the breakout, release, and thus escape, of POWs in Pusan camps. By June 22, only about 9,000 POWs were in the camp and about 27,000 prisoners escaped.

The armistice was eventually signed on July 27, 1953. The agreement released 75,830 Korean Communist of which 5,640 were Chinese. And North Korea released 3,600 American prisoners and 7,860 South Korean prisoners.

Liberation and the Korean War