No Statute of Limitations for War Crimes Committed by U.S. During the Korean War (1)

http://www.mfa.gov.kp/view/article/15338

 2022.7.4.

To stifle our Republic at its birth and realize the wild ambition of world hegemony, the U.S. ignited the Korean War - the most brutal and destructive war that burned the entire Korean peninsula into ashes and massacred innocent civilians.

At dawn of June 25, 1950, the Korean War broke out. Since the first day of the war, the U.S. imperialists launched unprecedentedly brutal and indiscriminate bombing raids on Pyongyang, urban and rural areas and fishing villages in the northern half of the Republic by mobilizing “B-29” and various kinds of warplanes and warships.

During the whole period of the war, the Air Corps of the U.S. Air Force flied 800,000 sorties, and the U.S. Marine Corps and the Air Corps of the U.S. Air Force flied more than 250,000 sorties in the skies of the northern half of the Republic. And they dropped almost 600,000 tons of bombs which amount to 3.7 times of the bombs dropped on the Japanese land during the Pacific War.

This was indeed an indiscriminate bombing. They dropped bombs which is equivalent to an average of 18 bombs on one square kilometer.

In Pyongyang City, the U.S. completely destroyed the factories, enterprises, educational, medical and service facilities as well as dwelling houses by dropping more than 428,000 bombs in more than 1,400 sorties. Especially, on July 11 and 12, 1952, about 400 planes of the U.S. Force dropped 6,000-odd napalm and time bombs, killing more than 8,000 women, the elderlies and children.

Every excellent heritage of national culture which our people had created throughout the thousands-year-long history was also wrecked. Among them are Yongmyong Temple and Pubyok Pavilion in Pyongyang city, Tongmyong Pavilion in Songchon, Jangan Pavilion and Phyohun Temple on Mt. Kumgang.

From January to June, 1951, many cultural facilities like Moranbong theatre, Pyongyang national theatre in Pyongyang city, Hamhung cinema and Wonsan city library were devastated. From January to November, 1952, more than 200 school buildings were reduced to ashes.

On November 8, 1950, more than 100 U.S. bombers appeared in the sky over Sinuiju and frantically poured down bombs, resulting in about 8,900 houses destroyed, over 9,000 citizens killed and 3,155 people injured. And they conducted ceaseless bombings in northern half of the Republic including Hungnam, Nampho and Ranam as well as the liberated regions in the southern half.

Besides, the U.S. aggressors dispatched many warships to the East and West Sea of Korea and bombarded from these ships every day. In this way, they massacred innocent people in the coastal cities and regions including Wonsan, Chongjin and Haeju.

The peaceful cities, many power stations and reservoirs such as Suphung power station, Jangjingang power station, Taebongsan reservoir were destroyed by barbarous bombing and shelling by the U.S. imperialists. This also resulted in destruction of most of the main industrial facilities in Nampho, Wonsan and North and South Hamgyong province.

Brutal bombing and shelling committed by the U.S. imperialists against peaceful cities, rural areas and residents constitute flagrant violations of universally recognized war law including the “Convention on Bombing by Naval Force in Time of War” and “Regulation on Air Combat”.

 

Korean Democratic Lawyers’ Association