Syngman Rhee
Paik Sun-yup, Rhee's Chief of Staff
"Korea: The Unknown War"
PBS |
"Korea: The Unknown War"
PBS |
"And throughout this entire period, like a lighted fuse sputtering towards the powder barrel, President Syngman Rhee threatened to wreck any armistice we signed." -Gen. Mark Clark
South Korean president Syngman Rhee pursued his goal of unification by participating in unification talks in 1945, for example, and much later refused to sign the armistice (he nonetheless gave into its terms in order to continue receiving UN aid). During the war Rhee advocated that fighting continue until UN troops eliminated Communism and seized North Korea.
"The UN negotiators at Panmunjom are in dead earnest to conclude the armistice terms contrary to the views of our government." -Syngman Rhee
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George Zimmer |
"In the early morning hours of June 18th, the Korean government opened the gates of four prisoner-of-war camps on the southern coast of South Korea. ROK guards stood aside as some 27,000 North Korean prisoners fled from confinement. South Korean soldiers met them outside the gates, gave them food, clothing, and maps, and directed them to hiding places. By the time the United Nations security forces arrived, the prisoners had melted into the population. Less than 1,000 were recaptured."
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