NEUTRAL NATIONS

SUPERVISORY
COMMISSION

The Armistice Agreement established a Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) as an independent, fact-finding body outside the authority of, but reporting to, the Military Armistice Commission. It is composed of four senior officers, one each from two nations selected by each side. The Agreement defines "neutral nation" as any nation whose combatant forces did not participate in the Korean war. Sweden and Switzerland were nominated by the United Nations Command; Czechoslovakia and Poland by the Korean People's Army and the Chinese People's Volunteers. The four members of the Commission are assisted by administrative personnel from their own countries.

The

mission of the Neutral Nations
Supervisory Commission was to insure
through investigation and inspection,
adherence by both sides to the provisions of
the Armistice Agreement which were design-
ed to maintain the military status quo which
existed when the ceasefire was effected. The
Agreement designated ten ports, five each in
north and south Korea, as the only authorized
points of entry for replacement personnel and
equipment. Neutral Nations Inspection
Teams, composed of representatives from each
of the four nations, were assigned to each of
the ports. The Mobile Inspection Teams of the
NNSC were to investigate any violations of
the Armistice Agreement outside the
Demilitarized Zone.

From the beginning of the truce, the efforts of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission to conduct investigations and inspections in the north were frustrated. The teams of the NNSC situated in the south, however, were afforded complete freedom of movement. The ports of entry authorized by the Armistice Agreement in the north were used to introduce combat material in excess of that necessary to maintain the military status quo. Therefore, at the 70th meeting of the Military Armistice Commission held on May 31, 1956, the United Nations Command announced provisional suspension of any further inspections until such time as the KPA/CPV side should

honor the relevant provisions of the Armistice Agreement in the north.

The Neutral Nations Supervisory Com-
mission-though its activities are reduced-con-
tinues to meet once each week in the Joint
Security Area according to the provisions of
the Armistice Agreement. Its members and
their staffs have offices and are housed in the
Demilitarized Zone adjacent to the conference
area. The Swedish and Swiss representatives
live in the southern,half; the Czech and Polish
representatives live in the northern half of the

zone.

RECORD OF THE ARMISTICE

As of December 1982 the United Nations
Command has documented over 73,000
separate north Korean violations of the Agree-
ment. The communists have admitted only
two, both minor, both in the first few months
of the truce. All charges made by the north are
thoroughly investigated by the United Na-
tions Command and only a small number have
been found to be valid.

One of the most significant violations of
the Armistice Agreement has been the conti-
nuing disregard by the Korean People's Army
of the provisions of paragraph 13d of the Ar-
mistice Agreement which prohibits the build
up of military strength beyond the status quo
which existed when the Agreement was sign-
ed. In addition to the agreed upon ports of en-
try in the north, a completely new railroad
which has been used for the shipment of com-

bat material was constructed between Man-
churia and north Korea. At the time of the
cease fire, the Korean People's Army side had
no air force in north Korea; now they have a
sizable, modern, jet equipped air arm. In spite
of this, at Panmunjom, they deny the ex-
istence of these aircraft even in the face of
overwhelming evidence. North Korean
ground forces have also been increased and
improved. In fact, a tape was made from an
official north Korean broadcast of a speech on
the anniversary of the Korean People's Army
by its Chief of General Staff. In that speech he
declared that "the north Korean Army's com-
bat capabilities have been strengthened in a
proportion incomparable to the time of the
past war." When this portion of the speech
was replayed at a Military Armistice Commis-
sion meeting, the communist side continued to
deny violations of the military status quo pro-

visions.

The United Nations Command adhered to the Armistice status quo provisions for almost four years while the other side violated the Agreement and created a military imbalance in their favor. When it became clear that the north Koreans had no intention of abiding by these provisions, their suspension was announced by the United Nations Command at the 75th Military Armistice Commission meeting on June 21, 1957. The United Nations Command spokesman told the communists

that the provisions were suspended until such
time as they agree to comply with them. The
north Korean continue to insist that they have
never violated the status quo provisions.

The north Korean regime attempts to
make the Military Armistice Commission
meetings into a forum for its political pro-
paganda. This is contrary to the only valid
purpose of the meetings - to uphold the Ar-
mistice Agreement.