On the Issue of Exposing the Atrocities Committed by the U.S. Military Against the Korean and Chinese People and Armies
(December 1–3, 1953)

Prime Minister Kim, and inform Comrade Du Ping:

The United States has already submitted to the United Nations General Assembly a so-called formal report on atrocities allegedly committed by our side against soldiers of the "United Nations forces" and Korean civilians. Foreign news agencies report that this matter was discussed at the General Assembly on November 30, and the United States is attempting to pass a resolution "condemning" our side. We must counter this. The Chinese side is now preparing to have Comrade Guo Moruo, in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee for Resisting U.S. Aggression and Aiding Korea, issue a statement in the form of a reply to a reporter from the Soviet Literary Gazette during the General Assembly discussions, primarily exposing the atrocities committed by the United States against the Korean and Chinese people and armies. In our opinion, Korea may also consider issuing a similar document. We should also release a formal investigative report on the atrocities committed by the U.S. military against the Korean and Chinese people and armies. China’s investigative report is already prepared. The initial draft of Korea’s report on the U.S. military’s mistreatment of prisoners of war has been seen, but it still requires careful revision. Please send someone immediately to Kaesong to consult with Du Ping. As for a comprehensive report on the U.S. military’s atrocities against ordinary civilians and soldiers, we have not yet seen a complete document. We suggest that you designate a responsible comrade to immediately organize, compile, revise, and finalize it, so that the Chinese and Korean reports can be published successively.

[1]

In addition, we have sent personnel to Pyeokdong to investigate the U.S. side’s implementation of a policy of espionage, terror, and sabotage to forcibly detain prisoners of war from Dongchang-ri who have already been repatriated, and we plan to complete this report around December 20. We suggest that Korea also send personnel to conduct a similar investigation.

Regarding the investigations into atrocities and the forcible detention of prisoners of war, we request that the Korean side maintain regular contact with Beijing through Comrade Du Ping in Kaesong.

Please telegraph your views on the above points.

Mao Zedong
December 1, 1953

Prime Minister Kim, and inform Comrade Du Ping:

Your telegram of December 2 has been received. Regarding the U.S. military’s atrocities against ordinary Korean civilians and soldiers, we believe that the materials from the four communiqués previously issued by the Korean Fatherland Front should be reorganized and compiled into a comprehensive investigative report, to be published simultaneously with the report on the U.S. side’s atrocities and mistreatment of prisoners of war. This is because the so-called atrocity report fabricated by the U.S. side this time to slander our side includes alleged atrocities against both prisoners of war and ordinary civilians, covering the entire period of the Korean War. Therefore, we must also present a comprehensive report on the atrocities committed by the U.S. side against Korean and Chinese prisoners of war and ordinary civilians throughout the entire Korean War (including the brutal bombings of 1952) as a forceful counterattack. If we do not also publish a report on their atrocities against ordinary civilians, not only will our counterattack lack sufficient strength, but it may also give the U.S. side an opening to exploit. Please telegraph your views on this matter.

We are now forwarding your telegram to Comrade Du Ping and hope that Comrade Du Ping will immediately establish contact with Beijing and Pyongyang.

Mao Zedong
December 3, 1953


--- Notes

Items 1 and 2 of this document are two telegrams from Mao Zedong to Kim Il-sung, Prime Minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
[2]
Du Ping was then serving as Acting Secretary of the Party Committee of the Chinese People’s Volunteers Delegation to the Korean Military Armistice Commission.