Mutual Defense Treaty between the Republic of Korea and the United
States of America
Signed at Washington: October 1, 1953 Entered into Force:
November 17, 1954
The Parties to this Treaty,
Reaffirming
their desire to live in peace with all governments, and desiring to strengthen
the fabric of peace in the Pacific area,
Desiring to declare publicly
and formally their common determination to defend themselves against external
armed attack so that no potential aggressor could be under the illusion that
either of them stands alone in the Pacific area,
Desiring further to
strengthen their efforts for collective defense for the preservation of peace
and security pending the development of a more comprehensive and effective
system of regional security in the Pacific area,
Have agreed as
follows:
Article 1
The Parties undertake to settle any international
disputes in which they may be involved by peaceful means in such a manner that
international peace and security and justice are not endangered and to refrain
in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner
inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations, or obligations assumed by
any Party towards the United Nations.
Article 2
The Parties will consult together whenever, in
the opinion of either of them, the political independence or security of either
of the Parties is threatened by external armed attack. Separately and jointly,
by self-helf and mutual aid, the Parties will maintain and develop appropriate
means to deter armed attack and will take suitable measures in consultation and
agreement to implement this Treat and to further its purposes.
Article 3
Each Party recognizes that an armed attack in the
Pacific area on either of the Parties in territories now under their respective
administrative control, or hereafter recognized by one of the Parties as
lawfully brought under the administrative control of the other, would be
dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the
common danger in accordance with its constitutional processes.
Article 4
The Republic of Korea grants, and the United
States of America accepts, the right to dispose United States land, air and sea
forces in and about the territory of the Republic of Korea as determined by
mutual agreement.
Article 5
This Treaty shall be ratified by the United
States of America and the Republic of Korea in accordance with their respective
constitutional processes and will come into force when instruments of
ratification thereof have been exchanged by them at Washington.
Article 6
This Treaty shall remain in force indefinately.
Either party may terminate it one year after notice has been given to the other
Party.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned plenipotentiaries have
signed this Treaty.
Done in duplicate at Washington, in the Korean and
English languages, this first day of October, 1953.
For the Republic of Korea: (signed) Y.T. Pyun
For the United States of America: (signed) John Foster
Dulles
Understanding of the United States of America
It is the
understanding of the United States that neither party is obligated, under
Article 3 of the above Treaty, to come to the aid of the other except in case of
an external armed attack against such party; nor shall anything in the present
Treaty be construed as requiring the United States to give assistance to Korea
except in the event of an armed attack against territory which has been
recognized by the United States or lawfully brought under the administrative
control of the Republic of Korea.