Originally published on the CGS blog on December 6, 2010.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Ocampo made a surprising announcement this morning at the United Nations. He announced that he has begun an investigation of North Korea’s recent attack on the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong and the sinking of a South Korean warship last March, for possible war crimes. Four people, including two civilians, died in the Yeonpyeong shelling on November 23rd; forty-six people were killed when the warship Cheonan was sunk by a torpedo alleged to have been fired by a North Korean submarine.
Since South Korea is a party to the Rome Statute the Court has jurisdiction over attacks which take place on South Korean soil. North Korea is not a member of the ICC and does not recognize its authority.
Citizens for Global Solutions welcomes the ICC’s decision to investigate the attacks on South Korea. We will continue to monitor and provide updates on the investigation as it proceeds as well as the proceedings of the Assembly of State Parties in New York this week.
