Following the human rights forum at the UN headquarters in New York on the April 3rd Incident, the April 3rd Peace Foundation dispatched a team to the US to conduct an on-site investigate to uncover U.S. involvement in the massacre.

Todd Thacker reports.

This is video footage from Sept. 28, 1945. It is the moment when Japanese forces in Jeju signed an instrument of surrender, officially recognizing the end of the Pacific War.

[slug] Japan signed an instrument of surrender on Sept. 28, 1945

The document was signed 44 days after the liberation of Korea from Japanese rule.

It was US Forces stationed on the island that received the document from Japan.

[slug] U.S. heavily involved in April 3rd Incident

The US military government was in legal control of South Korea for three years from 1945. After that it oversaw the military and police through operational control of the South Korean military.

It was also heavily involved in the Jeju April 3rd Incident.

It ordered attacks on villages that had been designated as Communist and cooperated with South Korean forces in the massacre of civilians.

[slug] UN Human rights forum focuses U.S. involvement

Last month's UN Human Rights Forum focused on the role and responsibility of the US military government.

Recording (UN Human Rights Forum)
Bruce Cumings / Professor, University of Chicago

<씽크:브루스 커밍스/시카고대학 교수(유엔 인권포럼)>
"마지막으로 하고 싶은 말은 제주 4·3이 미군정 당시 발생했을 뿐 아니라 미군정에게도 직접적인 책임이 있다는 것입니다."

Following the forum, an investigation has resumed to unveil further details of the massacre.

[slug] April 3 Peace Foundation examining U.S. government records

The April 3 Peace Foundation has organized a fact-finding group to begin searching for and analyzing government reports that record these tragic events. They are located at the US National Archives and Records Administration, among other sites.

[slug] Investigation to expand to US State Department

The first such investigation in 2001 was limited to US Forces stationed in Korea and its office.

This year’s investigation will cover high-level offices with decision and command capabilities, including the US State Department.

Given that there have been changes in the document management system of the US Army since the first investigation in 2001, another research team will be dispatched to the United States.

[slug] Annual investigation planned

The Jeju April 3 Peace Foundation is planning to conduct regular annual investigations in the US using national funding.

[Reporter] Todd Thacker
[Camera] Kim Seong-cheol

The foundation will compile and publish these documents and persuade UNESCO to add them to the Memory of the World Register, a compendium of archival holdings of universal value.

For any kind of resolution to this historic tragedy to take place, the present generation will have to identify the US Army’s culpability. All eyes are now on the investigation and the important task at hand.

Todd Thacker, KCTV