Harrison was finally ordered to Korea in December 1951 and appointed Deputy Commander, Eighth United States Army under General James Van Fleet, whom he respected as combat troop leader.
After reporting to general Van Fleet, Harrison inspected every 8th Army's combat division located on the Jamestown Line (including American, British Commonwealth, South Korean or United Nations troops) from Yellow Sea to the Sea of Japan.

He gained awareness of the situation on the front, terrain and enemy positions, but there were no major military operations, just stalemate.
The North Koreans and U.N. troops were located on the Jamestown Line and truce talks between United Nations and North Korea were already in effect.
However general Matthew B. Ridgway was not satisfied with one member of the U.N. negotiation team, Major general Claude B. Ferenbaugh and replaced him with Harrison in January 1952.

Harrison was attached to the U.S. team under Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy and participated in the regular negotiations with North Korean and Chinese representatives at Panmunjon.
The negotiations were ineffective and communists used the truce talks just for propaganda purposes and to strengthen their positions on the Jamestown Line.
Admiral Joy was planning his own departure in mid-1952 and recommended Harrison as his replacement.

Ridgway agreed and announced the change of command to Washington, where it was confirmed in May 1952, when Harrison was appointed senior member of the Korean Armistice Delegation.
He also nominated Harrison for the temporary rank of lieutenant general, but Armed Service Committee rejected the promotion.

In May 1952, General Mark W. Clark, another Harrison's West Point classmate and friend, succeeded Ridgway as Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command Korea and urged Harrison's promotion again.
The Army Chief of Staff, General J. Lawton Collins, who was also a West Point classmate of Harrison, convinced the committee and Harrison was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general on September 8, 1952.

General Clark later commented:
I know that Billy wanted a field command.
He's an old cavalry man, and the cavalry's always looking for a charge.
But I knew we needed someone with the strength of character to look the Communists in the eye and say, 'Bull!'
Not that Billy Harrison would ever say it quite that way, but the Reds would get his message.

Following the promotion, Harrison was appointed Chief of Staff and Deputy Commanding general, Far East Command under General Mark W. Clark and retained his assignment as Senior Member in the truce talks team.
He participated in the regular meetings with North Korean delegation led by General Nam Il and had to handle more North Korean attempts to use truce talks as the platform for propaganda.
He despised the communists, who he regarded with contempt as common criminals and for example in June 1952, he left the truce meeting, when he saw that the negotiation was without result, leaving North Korean General Nam Il flabbergasted.

In September 1953, Harrison assumed duty as Chief of Staff and Deputy Commanding general, Far East Command under General Mark W. Clark and remained in that capacity under General John E. Hull, who replaced Clark in October 1953.
Harrison served in the Far East until May 1954, when he returned to the United States for new assignment.
For his service in Korea during the Armistice negotiations and later with Far East Forces, he was decorated with Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
Queen Elizabeth awarded him the Companion of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath.
Harrison was finally ordered to Korea in December 1951 and appointed Deputy Commander, Eighth United States Army under General James Van Fleet, whom he respected as combat troop leader. After reporting to general Van Fleet, Harrison inspected every 8th Army's combat division located on the Jamestown Line (including American, British Commonwealth, South Korean or United Nations troops) from Yellow Sea to the Sea of Japan.
He gained awareness of the situation on the front, terrain and enemy positions, but there were no major military operations, just stalemate. The North Koreans and U.N. troops were located on the Jamestown Line and truce talks between United Nations and North Korea were already in effect. However general Matthew B. Ridgway was not satisfied with one member of the U.N. negotiation team, Major general Claude B. Ferenbaugh and replaced him with Harrison in January 1952.
Harrison was attached to the U.S. team under Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy and participated in the regular negotiations with North Korean and Chinese representatives at Panmunjon. The negotiations were ineffective and communists used the truce talks just for propaganda purposes and to strengthen their positions on the Jamestown Line. Admiral Joy was planning his own departure in mid-1952 and recommended Harrison as his replacement.
Ridgway agreed and announced the change of command to Washington, where it was confirmed in May 1952, when Harrison was appointed senior member of the Korean Armistice Delegation. He also nominated Harrison for the temporary rank of lieutenant general, but Armed Service Committee rejected the promotion.
In May 1952, General Mark W. Clark, another Harrison's West Point classmate and friend, succeeded Ridgway as Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command Korea and urged Harrison's promotion again. The Army Chief of Staff, General J. Lawton Collins, who was also a West Point classmate of Harrison, convinced the committee and Harrison was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general on September 8, 1952.
General Clark later commented:
I know that Billy wanted a field command. He's an old cavalry man, and the cavalry's always looking for a charge. But I knew we needed someone with the strength of character to look the Communists in the eye and say, 'Bull!' Not that Billy Harrison would ever say it quite that way, but the Reds would get his message.
Following the promotion, Harrison was appointed Chief of Staff and Deputy Commanding general, Far East Command under General Mark W. Clark and retained his assignment as Senior Member in the truce talks team. He participated in the regular meetings with North Korean delegation led by General Nam Il and had to handle more North Korean attempts to use truce talks as the platform for propaganda. He despised the communists, who he regarded with contempt as common criminals and for example in June 1952, he left the truce meeting, when he saw that the negotiation was without result, leaving North Korean General Nam Il flabbergasted.
In September 1953, Harrison assumed duty as Chief of Staff and Deputy Commanding general, Far East Command under General Mark W. Clark and remained in that capacity under General John E. Hull, who replaced Clark in October 1953. Harrison served in the Far East until May 1954, when he returned to the United States for new assignment. For his service in Korea during the Armistice negotiations and later with Far East Forces, he was decorated with Navy Distinguished Service Medal. Queen Elizabeth awarded him the Companion of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath.
William Kelly Harrison Jr.