Telegram to Li Kenong Regarding Negotiations on the Military Demarcation Line (November 20, 1951) Comrade Li Kenong; also inform Kim and Peng: Please raise the three points mentioned in your telegram of 24:00 on November 19 at the meeting of the subcommittee on the 21st. However, the period of twenty days should be changed back to thirty days, that is, we should agree to the time frame proposed by the enemy, since the enemy is eager for quick results and we should not appear more impatient than they are. Our stance is that it would be ideal to reach an agreement within twenty days, but we are not afraid of a longer delay either. Issued by Mao Zedong at 18:00 on November 20, based on a revised version. Notes [1] Li Kenong was then Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Central People’s Government. [2] Kim refers to Kim Il-sung, Premier of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Peng refers to Peng Dehuai, Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers. [3] These refer to the three points proposed in the amendment to the agreement that Li Kenong transmitted to Mao Zedong in his telegram of 24:00 on November 19, 1951. The amendment stated: “With regard to Agenda Item 2—‘Determining the mutual military demarcation line as a basic condition for halting hostilities in Korea, thereby establishing a demilitarized zone’—the following agreement is reached: (1) The military demarcation line shall be set along the actual line of contact between the two sides. On this basis, both sides shall withdraw two kilometers from this line, establishing a demilitarized zone in principle. (2) The joint subcommittees of both sides shall immediately, in accordance with the aforementioned principle, adjust the existing line of contact to determine the mutually agreed-upon actual line of contact as the military demarcation line. The lines two kilometers on either side of the military demarcation line shall constitute the northern and southern boundaries of the demilitarized zone. (3) Given that hostilities will continue until the armistice agreement is signed, if, within twenty days after the plenary session of the delegations approves this agreement and the specific locations of the military demarcation line and the demilitarized zone, all items on the agenda have been agreed upon, then regardless of any changes in the actual line of contact, the determined military demarcation line and the demilitarized zone shall no longer be altered. Should more than twenty days elapse without reaching an agreement on all agenda items, adjustments shall be made in accordance with the armistice agreement and any changes that have occurred in the actual line of contact between the two sides prior to the signing.”