Legal Definitions - armed peace

Definition: Armed peace is a situation where two or more countries are technically at peace, but they are still armed and ready for possible or probable hostilities.

For example, during the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were in an armed peace. They did not engage in direct military conflict, but both countries had nuclear weapons and were prepared for the possibility of war.

Another example of armed peace is the current situation between North and South Korea. Although the two countries technically signed a peace agreement in 1953, they are still heavily armed and have a tense relationship.

These examples illustrate how armed peace is a state of tension and uncertainty, where countries are prepared for the worst even if they are not actively engaged in conflict.