한국전쟁은 더 빨리 끝날 수 없었는가?-평화중재의 시도와 좌절 -

Abstract

TheKorean Warwhich began on 25June1950continuedformorethan 3years.TheKorean Warbrokeoutrightafterthestartofthecoldwarin theworld,with majorpowersand theUnited Nationsparticipating in the waron theinternationallevel.Theparticipantstateshadvariousviewson thewaraccordingtotheirnationalinterests.Somestatesthoughtthatthey shoulddotheirbesttowin thewarin ordertoshow theirwillandpower totheopponents,whereasotherstatesbelieved thattheyshouldlimitthe warintheKoreanpeninsulanottoexpandtheirinvolvement. Since mostmajorpowers in the world involved in the war,the war becamecruelandcomplicated with thefrontmovingup and down on the peninsula.Before and during the course ofthe war,some statessought the peace mediation.Among others,the British and Indian governments triedtostoptheNorth Korean aggression whilecontactingtheChineseand Sovietgovernments.Althoughthereweresomeprogressinthenegotiations,itfailedbecauseoftheAmericanrejection. Justbefore the Chinese intervention,the British governmentsuggested thebuffer-zoneproposal.TheproposalwastostoptheUN advanceatthe 40th parallel,setting theremainingarea to thefrontierasa buffer-zone. The proposalwas based on the idea that the UN forces would gain favorable position even if the Chinese forces intervened. The US government,however,refusedthisidea.Itwantedtowin thewarwith all the UN forces advancing to the China-Korea border.AtlasttheChinese forcesintervened. Itisdoubtfulwhetherthewarwould end earlierifthepeaceproposa had proceededwithoutdelay.Butin termsofthedelayofthecompletion ofthe warfor3 years and ofthe resultofthe division ofthe Korean peninsula,itwasworthwhiletoreconsiderthepeaceproposaltoend the warearlier.