09-151.pdf

August 5 At the 378th MAC meeting, the North accuses the South of
neglecting Paragraph 13(d) and bringing combat equipment
into South Korea that should be withdrawn. The South
remarks that if the North Koreans observed Paragraph 13(d), it
would consider reciprocating.
618 Peace-keeping in the Korean Peninsula
The North Korean government claims that the US and South
Korea were stepping up plans to invade the North.
August 6 A UNC work force of four workers and four guards who had
gone to prune a poplar tree in the JSA are told that they would
be killed if they tried to carry out the task. The work is
cancelled.
August 18 The axe murder, killing two American soldiers, takes place in
the JSA when a UNC party prunes a poplar tree.
August 19 At the 379th MAC meeting, the South protests the axe murder,
but the North claims that the South had begun provocations.
August 21 The poplar tree is cut down in “Operation Paul Bunyan.” KPA
Supreme Commander Kim Il Sung apologizes for the incident
(no. 3).
August 23 The American government announced that the North’s regret
was “a positive step.”
August 24 At the NNSC meeting, the Swedish delegate urges the parties to
maintain peace within the JSA and by all means prevent a
recurrence.
August 25 At the 380th MAC meeting, the North proposes that the JSA
should be divided and security guards from both sides should
not have entrance to the other’s side.
August 28 At the 381st MAC meeting, the US declares that it would accept
a division of the Panmunjom area if the KPA closed its four
check-points in the South.
August 29 The UNC accepts the KPA proposal from August 25.
September 6 Both sides agree to reorganize the Panmunjom area; the UNC
and KPA forces would be divided.