askchapo

There's this from Max Hastings (British reactionary but still useful in this case):

https://erenow.org/ww/the-korean-war/2.php

Moscow made a proposal to Washington remarkably similar to that which General Hodge had advanced almost two years earlier: both great powers should simultaneously withdraw their forces, leaving the Koreans to resolve their own destinies. The Russians were plainly confident—with good reason—that left to their own devices, the forces of the Left in both Koreas would prevail. The Americans, making the same calculation, rejected the Russian plan.

There's also this excerpt from the June 13th 1954 issue of people's daily showing in my opinion how even after the armistice peaceful reunification was not a US interest (it very clearly never was or has been):

https://rmrb.zhouenlai.info/%E5%91%A8%E6%80%BB%E7%90%86%E4%B8%93%E6%A0%8F/%E6%80%BB%E7%90%86%E7%9B%B8%E5%85%B3/1954/1954-06-13%200110948%20%E8%B0%81%E5%9C%A8%E9%98%BB%E6%8C%A0%E5%92%8C%E5%B9%B3%E8%A7%A3%E5%86%B3%E6%9C%9D%E9%B2%9C%E9%97%AE%E9%A2%98.htm

Translated excerpt of interest:

"In the discussion on the Korean question, our delegation proposed that a neutral nations commission, constituted like the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, should supervise Korean elections. However, the US representative opposed supervision by a neutral commission. At the Geneva meeting on June 5, Smith insisted: 'This international body is absolutely incapable of doing anything.' He vigorously denied the positive role the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission had played in assisting implementation of the Korean Armistice Agreement, saying: 'The painful experience such a body gave us in the Korean armistice has taught us a lesson, a lesson that remains vivid in our memory.'"