TOKYO: Communists renewed their pledge to respect the neutrality of the cease-fire conference city of Kaesong today [Aug 9] and called for immediate resumption of negotiations. But at the same time they charged Allies with four specific violations of neutrality, entered a “grave” protest and themselves asked for new neutrality guarantees. As regards the Communist accusation of Allied violation of neutrality a UN spokesman dismissed it … as “completely without validity”.

Admiral Joy … suggested that the Reds might be “abusing use of white markings” on vehicles by camouflaging war vehicles instead of identifying peace vehicles. Admiral Joy’s reply to General Nam’s complaint [was that] the senior Communist liaison officer had several times been told by Allied liaison officers that vehicles serving the Communist delegates would be exempt from attack if previous notification was given [to] the [UN] about their route and time of travel.

Communists addressed two communications to the UN command … the North Korean and Chinese Communist Commanders-in-Chief in a message to Gen Ridgway said they had already “insured strict adherence to the agreement concerning neutralization of Kaesong area.”

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2026