The International Criminal Court (ICC) has opened a preliminary investigation into possible war crimes committed by North Korean forces on South Korean territory.
By Linawati Sidarto
ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo on December 6th stated that the examination is based on “the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island on the November 23rd 2010 which resulted in the killing of South Korean marines and civilians and the injury of many others.”
He further referred to the sinking of a South Korean warship “hit by a torpedo allegedly fired from a North Korean submarine on March 26th, which resulted in the death of 46 persons.”
Ocampo’s office will analyse the seriousness of the information he received and may later decide to start a formal investigation. Ocampo announced in November that he is currently carrying out similar investigations
in Afghanistan, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Georgia and Palestine. In November he added Honduras and Nigeria to the list.
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