The Humanitarian Relief and Its Limits of the International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) During the Korean War

This article analyzes the humanitarian work of the International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) during the Korean War, 1950~1953, describing its status, efforts, and limitations. The relief action of the ICRC was restricted in the Korean Peninsula, the testing ground for the application of the 1949 Geneva Conventions; since the Cold War was in full swing. Nevertheless, during war time, ICRC strived to enlarge and perform the humanitarian relief in two Koreas. In detail, ICRC tried hard to contact with North Korea, endeavor to get accreditation of ICRC delegates of South Korea under Four Geneva Conventions from UNC, and adopt two important resolutions related to the Korean war at the XVIIIth International Red Cross Conference. At last, ICRC could perform the small portion of civil relief operations in South Korea. This achievement was relatively slight, but had major implications.BR The time of Cold war can be described as the history of the development of humanity and humanitarianism. ICRC and Geneva Conventions that lack their capacity gained experience from the Korean war. In other words, growing pains of ICRC led to the development of humanitarianism.