The relative peace between the South and the North following the armistice was interrupted by border skirmishes , celebrity abductions , and assassination attempts . The North failed in several assassination attempts on South Korean leaders , such as in 1968 , 1974 and the Rangoon bombing in 1983 ; tunnels were found under the DMZ and tensions flared over the axe murder incident at Panmunjom in 1976 . For almost two decades after the war , the two states did not seek to negotiate with one another . In 1971 , secret , high-level contacts began to be conducted culminating in the 1972 July 4th North – South Joint Statement that established principles of working toward peaceful reunification . The talks ultimately failed because in 1973 , South Korea declared its preference that the two Koreas should seek separate memberships in international organizations
Rangoon bombing
Rangoon bombing
North Korea