CTIA No.: 4228.000
Title: Between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea Regarding the Mutual Defense Treaty.
Signed at Washington October 1, 1953. Entered into force November 17, 1954.

Ratification advised by the Senate of the United States of America, with an understanding,
January 26, 1954. Ratified by the President of the United States of America, subject to the said
understanding, February 5, 1954. Ratified by the Republic of Korea January 29, 1954.
Ratifications exchanged at Washington November 17, 1954. Proclaimed by the President of the
United States of America December 1, 1954.
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States of America and the Republic
of Korea was signed at Washington on October 1, 1953 by their respective Plenipotentiaries, the
original of which Treaty in the English and Korean languages is word for word as follows:
The Parties to this Treaty, Reaffirming their desire to live in peace with all peoples and 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 I
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 toward the United Nations.
Article II

 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 help 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 Treaty and to further its purposes.
Article III
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 IV
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 V
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 VI
This Treaty shall remain in force indefinitely. 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 English and Korean languages, this first day of
October 1953.
FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
[FN:1 JOHN FOSTER DULLES]
FOR THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA:
[FN:2 Y. T. PYUN]

 WHEREAS the Senate of the United States of America by their resolution of January 26, 1954,
two-thirds of the Senators present concurring therein, did advise and consent to the ratification of
the said Treaty with the following understanding:
"It is the understanding of the United States that neither party is obligated, under Article III 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 as lawfully brought under the administrative control of
the Republic of Korea."
WHEREAS the text of the aforesaid understanding was communicated by the Government of the
United States of America to the Government of the Republic of Korea by a note dated January
28, 1954 [FN:1 Not printed.] and was acknowledged by the Government of the Republic of
Korea by a note dated February 1, 1954;
WHEREAS the said Treaty was duly ratified by the President of the United States of America on
February 5, 1954, in pursuance of the aforesaid advice and consent of the Senate and subject to
the aforesaid understanding, and was duly ratified also on the part of the Republic of Korea on
January 29, 1954;
WHEREAS the respective instruments of ratification of the said Treaty were exchanged at
Washington on November 17, 1954, and a protocol of exchange, in the English and Korean
languages, was signed at that place and on that date by the respective Plenipotentiaries of the
United States of America and the Republic of Korea, the said protocol of exchange recording the
aforesaid understanding;
AND WHEREAS it is provided in Article V of the said Treaty that the Treaty will come into
force when instruments of ratification thereof have been exchanged at Washington;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it known that I, Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States
of America, do hereby proclaim and make public the said Mutual Defense Treaty between the
United States of America and the Republic of Korea to the end that the same and every article
and clause thereof, subject to the understanding hereinbefore recited, shall be observed and
fulfilled with good faith, on and after November 17, 1954, by the United States of America and
by the citizens of the United States of America and all other persons subject to the jurisdiction
thereof.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United
States of America to be affixed.
DONE at the city of Washington this first day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand
nine hundred fifty-four and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred
seventy-ninth.

 DWIGHT D EISENHOWER
By the President:
JOHN FOSTER DULLES
Secretary of State

Source: Treaties and International Agreements Online