Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission

After the Korean War, prisoner exchange was important for both sides. The UN wanted voluntary repatriation, while the People's Republic of China wanted forced repatriation. By May 1952, despite several efforts, the issue was deadlocked. Several plans were put forth and the UN eventually agreed to follow then-Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's and Defense Minister V. K. Krishna Menon's prisoner-of-war settlement proposal which called for a Neutral Nations' Repatriation Commission (NNRC). The proposal was rejected by the People's Republic of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 3 December 1952. UN Commander General Mark W. Clark then proposed an exchange of sick and wounded soldiers, which was agreed to by the Communists. Thus, Operation Little Switch got underway. This was the first exchange of soldiers which began that year on 20 April.