Alleged communists massacred under the eyes of American soldiers
Last month the US government declassified images of thought-to-be communist sympathisers being massacred by South Korean authorities between 1950 and 1951. Tackling a sensitive subject, the evidence throws more weight behind the argument that the US were partly to blame.
The Korean conflict acted as a trigger for the Cold War. The country, rescued from Japanese control following World War II, was divided in half and shared between two rival regimes - the communist-supported northern side and the "free world"-supported southern side. To separate the two halves, a line was drawn along the 38th Parallel north (circle of latitude), creating North Korea and South Korea. In 1949, South Korea created the National Guidance League (NGL), which recruited, by force, all suspected extreme left-leaning activists, in order to control any potential north-side sympathisers. Quotas were quickly set up for all NGL places to be filled, and to keep them at full capacity police forced thousands of farmers, many of them illiterate, to join the NGL, even though they had no link with the far left. Experts estimate that up until the North Korean invasion, the NGL recruited around 350,000 members.
When the north stormed its southern counterpart, marking the start of the war in June 1950, the southern authorities panicked. Fearing an insurrection from these hundreds of thousands of supposed left-leaning thinkers, the South Korean government ordered that they be got rid of. The members were massacred.
"At least 100,000 people were killed"
Nearly 60 years after the war, the South Korean government launched an enquiry into the massacred members of the NGL. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is today inspecting the graves, which were classified as "top secret" by Washington and Seoul up until now. Dong-Choon Kim is one of fifteen members of the commission, which is juridically independent from the government.
Our mission is limited to research and making recommendations for reconciliation. We haven't been ordered to punish those responsible or deal with compensating the victims. Most of the officers accountable and the chief of the police are already dead. Only low-ranking soldiers and policemen have made confessions. Although we're encouraging victimisers to confess and apologise, it's very difficult for them to actually do it. As a president, former head-of-state Roh Moo-hyun apologised to the families of victims of the April 3 Jeju incident and Ulsan National Guidance league incident. As for America's role in the massacres, it's quite a sensitive issue. We are trying to investigate it."
Photos taken by the US Army during the massacres
The following photos were taken by the American Army during the mass killings in 1950-1951. They were made public by the US National Archives and Records Administration on 5 May this year. They're part of a series of declassified images.
Korean officers shoot people in a pit (1951).
A genocide site in Chungju (29 October 1950).
Mass killings in Daejeon (July 1950).
The mass execution of South Korean political prisoners by the South Korean military and police at Daejeon (July 1950).
The commission at work
The following pictures were taken by South Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission during investigations.
Excavating a site at Cheongwon Bunteo Valley (August 2007).
The first remains found in Cheongwon Bunteo Valley (August 2007).
Skeletons found at a site in a district of Daejeon Sannae.
Comments
The US were definitely not
Submitted by supreme buy (not verified) on Mon, 18/08/2008 - 03:07.The US were definitely not to blame.
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Excuse me....
Submitted by Dave (not verified) on Sun, 15/06/2008 - 16:42.The Americans weren't the ones pulling the triggers here. These were Koreans killing Koreans. We don't always do things perfectly, but we sure do get all the blame, no matter who makes the errors.
Korea- Our Responsibility & Prayer
Submitted by Ka'a'awa (not verified) on Sun, 15/06/2008 - 02:26.What a tragedy war is. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9
Who would prefer to” live” under the brutal dictatorship of North Korea ? You ?
It is childish to blame America for all the world’s evil. Are all American soldiers perfect ? No. Did so many American soldiers give their lives for the freedom and prosperity in South Korea. Yes. Many, many older Koreans understand war and still thank Americans & UN troops.
Would you give your life to ensure the freedom of others ? Could you really behave nobly in war yourself ? Four million people have died in Congo in the last 5 years. What have You done about it ? Blame the Americans for not helping ?
Yes truth needs to be told in Korea and the relatives of the lost comforted. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4.
But look in the mirror, are you so sure that you could be so morally perfect in the heat of war ? How can we be ?.....I pray we can be.
france 24 will only post
Submitted by Anonyme (not verified) on Sat, 14/06/2008 - 15:36.france 24 will only post comments that are pro-american, they will not allow anyone who even wants the "other side" of the 38th parallel's story to be respected. Kim jong il may not believe in the free flow of information, but it is clear from the comments france 24 will post that france 24 also doesn't believe in the free flow of information
Really?
Submitted by Team Observers on Sat, 14/06/2008 - 15:42.That's a very surprising comment. Have we ever deleted one of your comments? I doubt it. On The Observers, we let everybody talk freely. We only delete insults or openly racist comments. We don't censor anybody and you're welcome to give us your opinion, whatever it may be.
north koreans
Submitted by Anonyme (not verified) on Fri, 13/06/2008 - 23:59.Funny, the North Koreans are always portrayed as "evil" in the media, and the Americans and the South Korean regime they support are always portrayed as the good guys. I hope these images will help people form a more open minded opinion of this long running dispute.
And at least the US are open
Submitted by Unregistered user on Sat, 14/06/2008 - 08:14.And at least the US are open about it. Don't forget that it's the US departement which declassified these documents. Not sure Kim Jong Il believe in the free flow of information...
yeah, credit to the us, they
Submitted by Anonyme (not verified) on Sat, 14/06/2008 - 15:33.yeah, credit to the us, they declassify these photos 50 years later, does this mean in 50 years they will do the same with photos of guantanamo and god only knows what other attrocities?
democracy
Submitted by riddelup (not verified) on Fri, 13/06/2008 - 17:11.Three cheers for democracy. You call it democracy but if it looks like fascism, walks likes fascism and talks like fascism it is fascism
Classic American Coverup
Submitted by Anonyme (not verified) on Fri, 13/06/2008 - 13:40.This World should finally wake up and start putting pressure on American Government and population to extradite all those responsible for decisions which are behind deaths of thousands and millions....George W. Bush would be a good start and his accomplices in hsi 8 year administration!!!! Then go back and track down all generals and others responsible for all the killings World wide for the past 50 years!!!! Same can be done with Russians as well! Remember there are 300 + million American's (large portion immigrants who will not object) and around 250 million Russians, which means soon there is 5.5 billion of others and how long would majority allow minority to abuse them!