 |
Clinton Expresses Regret for GIs' Killing of Koreans
US President Bill Clinton said Thursday, January 11, that he deeply regret that Korean civilians lost their lives at No Gun Ri, where American forces fired on an undetermined number of refugees during the early days of the Korean War.
Clinton did not refer to the role of US troops in the No Gun Ri incident. "We have been unable to determine the exact events that occurred at No Gun Ri," he said.
He called the episode a "painful reminder of the tragedies of war."
Clinton's comments were contained in a written statement released Thursday afternoon.
"On behalf of the United States of America," Clinton said, "I deeply regret that Korean civilians lost their lives at No Gun Ri in late July 1950." He said the United States would construct a memorial "to these and all other innocent civilians and create a commemorative memorial fund."
Clinton earlier decided that the United States would not provide financial compensation to the survivors and families of the victims.
The South Korean government pressed Washington to apologize for the killings, but the Clinton administration refused.
In This Section
|