HISTORICAL INFORMATION ON THE KOREAN WAR

Early day motion 305, tabled 20 January 2000 by Harry Cohen (Labour). Signed by 14 members.

That this House notes the new evidence, including evidence from those who took part, that South Korea and United States forces committed war atrocities in the early stages of the Korean War, including the mass slaughter of civilians at villages such as No Gun Ri; also notes the new research which shows that South Korean troops attacked North Korean villages for up to a year before the war broke out; further notes that the USA remains opposed to a permanent international war crimes investigation process; considers that the new historical information could be significant and should be a backdrop to a new understanding and settlement of the longstanding dispute in Korea; believes that a policy of inclusion, rather than exclusion and permanent hostility, should now be adopted towards North Korea; notes that this could help to improve the dire economic problems for the population of that country, and perhaps restrict the development of ballistic missile delivery systems and subsequently achieve U.S. accession to the Land Mines Treaty; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to urge the United States Administration to agree to a proper settlement within which the matter of war crimes could also be resolved.

Signatures by party: Labour 13, Liberal Democrat 1.