Question of Korea

XXIV. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE
2516. Question of Korea

The General Assembly, Having noted the report of the United Nations Commission for the Unification and Rehabilitation of Korea, signed at Seoul, Korea, on 6 September 1969,[1] Reaffirming its resolution 2466 (XXIII) of 20 December 1968 and its previous resolutions on the question of Korea noted therein, Recognizing that the continued division of Korea does not correspond to the wishes of the Korean people and constitutes a source of tension which prevents the full restoration of international peace and security in the area, Recalling that the United Nations, under the Charter, is fully and rightfully empowered to take collective action to maintain peace and security and to extend its good offices in seeking a peaceful settlement in Korea in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter, Anxious that progress be made towards creating conditions which would facilitate the reunification of Korea on the basis of the freely expressed will of the Korean people, Concerned at reports of further events in Korea which, if continued, could hamper efforts to create the peaceful conditions which are one of the prerequisites of the establishment of a unified and independent Korea,

1. Reaffirms that the objectives of the United Nations in Korea are to bring about, by peaceful means, the establishment of a unified, independent and democratic Korea under a representative form of government, and the full restoration of international peace and security in the area;

2. Expresses the belief that arrangements should be made to achieve these objectives through genuinely free elections held in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly;

3. Calls for co-operation in the easing of tensions in the area and, in particular, for the avoidance of incidents and activities in violation of the Armistice Agreement of 1953;

4. Notes with approval the efforts made by the United Nations Commission for the Unification and Rehabilitation of Korea, in pursuit of its mandate, to encourage the exercise of restraint and the easing of tensions in the area and to secure maximum support, assistance and co-operation in the realization of the peaceful reunification of Korea;

5. Requests the United Nations Commission for the Unification and Rehabilitation of Korea to pursue these and other efforts to achieve the objectives of the United Nations in Korea, to continue to carry out the tasks previously assigned to it by the General Assembly and to keep members of the Assembly informed on the situation in the area and on the results of these efforts through regular reports submitted to the Secretary-General, and to the General Assembly as appropriate;

6. Notes that the United Nations forces which were sent to Korea in accordance with United Nations resolutions have in greater part already been withdrawn, that the sole objective of the United Nations forces at present in Korea is to preserve the peace and security of the area, and that the Governments concerned are prepared to withdraw their remaining forces from Korea whenever such action is requested by the Republic of Korea or whenever the conditions for a lasting settlement formulated by the General Assembly have been fulfilled.

1818th plenary meeting,
25 November 1969.

---

[1] Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 29 (A/7629 and Corr.1).