Chapter 28 6. Beginning of formal negotiations

At the beginning of June 1951, when Mao Zedong and Kim Il Sung discussed the policy and plan of the possible armistice negotiations in Beijing, they considered restoring the 38th parallel border as one of the basic conditions for the armistice. On July 13, Zhou Enlai drafted a telegram to Stalin for Mao Zedong, introducing the situation in the two days since the start of the armistice negotiations and the principled positions of the DPRK and China on the agenda issues of the armistice negotiations.Pointing out: "According to the general situation, we believe that we need to adhere to the 38th parallel and withdraw foreign troops from North Korea, but we need to point out a general idea when expressing these issues. When discussing these issues fundamentally, we need to solve the 38th parallel issue. .” “As for the withdrawal of foreign troops from North Korea, this can be implemented in a separate phase.”

During the negotiation process, the DPRK and Chinese delegations, based on the above cards and a series of instructions issued by the Chinese and North Korean parties on this issue, paid attention to grasping a reasonable, favorable, and restrained struggle strategy, and took a step back in order to strive for an agreement on the agenda as soon as possible. In the case of an agreement, they are determined to insist on the 38th parallel as the military demarcation line between the two sides in the subsequent substantive discussions on the agenda.Therefore, when the Kaesong armistice negotiations reached an agreement on the agenda of the negotiating meeting after several twists and turns, the negotiating meeting turned to the second agenda item, that is, the discussion on the military demarcation line. The basic principled position of the military demarcation line between the two sides.That is: with the 38th parallel as the military demarcation line, the two sides retreated ten kilometers each, established a demilitarized zone, and disengaged.

When Nanri proposed the plan, he elaborated three reasons: first, it is universally recognized; second, it is fair and reasonable; and third, it is practical. However, Joey, the chief representative of the United States, resolutely rejected the reasonable proposal from the DPRK and China to use the 38th parallel as the military demarcation line. "Based on the "Navy and Air Force Superiority Compensation Theory", that is, the delineation of the so-called demilitarized areas must be based on military strength. The US's naval and air force is strong, and its "advantage" must be compensated on the ground."

Joy believes that there are three areas of military significance: the air zone, the sea zone, and the land zone.He said the United Nations maintains air superiority across North Korea and controls all of the two oceans surrounding North Korea. Joy proposed that the depth of the demilitarized zone should be about 20 miles, and should be demarcated according to easily identifiable ground or terrain patterns.At the same time, they handed over to our side the map that had been demarcated in advance and drew the military demarcation line tens of kilometers deep into the area behind our positions, in an attempt to seize our 12,000 square meters with the so-called "concession" of stopping ground combat and naval and air force activities. kilometers of land.

The absurdity of the US logic is obvious.Anyone with a little bit of military common sense will know that the ground front on the Korean battlefield at that time was precisely the result of the comprehensive force contest between the two armies. If there was no advantage in the navy and air force of the other side, there would have been no room for the other side to exist on the ground.Apparently, the theory of "compensation for naval and air force superiority" is completely a sophistry. On the morning of the 28th, the DPRK and China questioned each other, since your air force is so powerful, why don’t you stand firm on the Pyongyang-Wonsan line where you have reached before under the cover of your navy and air force?But retreat all the way to the south of the Han River? "In fact, you only rely on the navy and air force to bombard inhumanely and in violation of international public law to barely and temporarily maintain the status quo of your ground forces. If there is no cover for such bombardment And support, your ground troops have long since withdrawn to nowhere.”

On the basis of sufficient reasoning, the DPRK and China emphasized that the situation on the battlefield at this stage is in a state of flux, and generally cannot escape the scope of the 38th parallel area. "From this feature, we cannot avoid the conclusion that at this stage the 38th parallel approximately reflects the situation on the battlefield between you and us. Therefore, from a purely military point of view, we believe that the 38th parallel is the The military demarcation line between the two sides is fair, reasonable and practicable." When the US representative listened to our speech, his expression was very heavy.When our side talked about "Why did you withdraw to the south of the Han River again", Joe pouted and raised his eyebrows, and Huo Zhi slapped the table lightly with his fists, seemingly extremely angry, but he was barely suppressed.

When it was Joe's turn to speak, he called for an adjournment, ready to strike back at me.When the meeting resumed in the afternoon, Joey accused us of using "very rude words" in my speech and "bluffing to the delegation".Our Fang Nanri responded to the other party: "You seem to have forgotten the threatening and insulting statement yesterday. In my speech today, I only criticize your incorrect and unilateral statement." The two sides come and go, arguing very fierce. The next day, the United States put forward the so-called "defensive position and force security theory" to support its absurd theory.It is said that the 38th parallel is just a latitude line, and there is no terrain that can be used. "The United Nations Command is now in a defensible position, and it does not want to give up such a position to endanger the safety of its troops" and so on.When Joey justified our refutation of his "defense theory", he also regarded himself as an anti-aggressor, flaunting that the adequate defense they advocate is necessary for peace and so on.

During the two days of negotiations on the 30th and 31st, the two sides disagreed and the meeting reached a deadlock.