Question of atrocities committed by the North Korean and Chinese Communist forces against United Nations prisoners of war in Korea

VIII. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED WITHOUT REFERENCE TO A COMMITTEE
804. Question of atrocities committed by the North Korean and Chinese Communist forces against United Nations prisoners of war in Korea

The General Assembly, Having considered the item "Question of atrocities committed by the North Korean and Chinese Communist forces against United Nations prisoners of war in Korea" proposed by the United States of America in documents A/2531 and A/2531/Add. 1 of 30 and 31 October 1953, Recalling that basic legal requirements for humane treatment of prisoners of war and civilians in connexion with the conduct of hostilities are established by general international law and find authoritative reaffirmation in the Geneva Conventions of 1929[1] and 1949[2] relative to the treatment of prisoners of war and in the Geneva Convention of 1949[3] relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war, Recalling that these Conventions also embody precise and detailed provisions for giving effect to the basic legal requirements referred to above, and that these provisions, to the extent that they have not become binding as treaty law, have been accorded most general support by the international community, Desiring to secure general and full observance of the requirements of international law and of universal standards of human decency,

1. Expresses its grave concern at reports and information that North Korean and Chinese Communist forces have, in a large number of instances, employed inhuman practices against the heroic soldiers of forces under the United Nations Command in Korea and against the civilian population of Korea;

2. Condemns the commission by any governments or authorities of murder, mutilation, torture, and other atrocious acts against captured military personnel or civilian populations, as a violation of rules of international law and basic standards of conduct and morality and as affronting human rights and the dignity and worth of the human person.

467th plenary meeting,
3 December 1953.

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[1] See League of Nations Treaty Series, Publication of Treaties and International Engagements Registered with the Secretariat of the League of Nations, Volume CXVIII, 1931-1932, No. 2734, page 343. [2] See Treaty Series, Treaties and international agreements registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat of the United Nations, Volume 75, 1950, No. 972, page 135. [3] Ibid., No. 973, page 287.