The Politics of Conference: The Political Conference on Korea in Geneva, 26 April–15 June 1954
Abstract
J.Y. Ra The Politics of Conference: The Political Conference on Korea in Geneva, 26 April15 June 1954 As the parties concerned seem to be finally groping for the possibility of nego- tiating a new peace system to replace the old one of armistice in the Korean peninsula, it may be worthwhile to look at the Political Conference on Korea which was held in Geneva over forty years ago. To begin with, this was the first major international conference in which the two Koreas participated as sovereign states.1 This was not limited to formalities. Each, and particularly the Republic of Korea, was an important element in terms of substance throughout the Conference from the very beginning to its termination -- in its organization, negotiations and conclusion.2 More important, the Conference was the first and last occasion at which the two Koreas participated in a discussion of the unification of Korea together with the leading world powers. The Conference was also the last major occasion on which the Korean problem was discussed in the context of the international order created in the aftermath of the second world war. In other words, it was the last time the major powers in