Within the armistice negotiations to end the Korean war (1950–1953), the release and repatriation of prisoners of war was a contentious issue. In December 1952, the GA proposed in resolution 610 (VII) the establishment of a Repatriation Commission in Korea to “facilitate the return to their homelands of all prisoners of war” (A/RES/610 (VII)). The Repatriation Commission was to see that “all prisoners of war [shall] be released to the Repatriation Commission from military control and from the custody of the detaining side in agreed numbers and at agreed exchange points in agreed demilitarized zones” (ibid., para. 4). The work of the Commission would be assisted by the Red Cross on both sides, which would have access to prisoners of war “while they are under the temporary jurisdiction of the Repatriation Commission” (ibid., para. 8).
The resolution requested the President of the General Assembly to communicate this proposal to the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China and the North Korean authorities and “invite their acceptance” as forming a “just and reasonable basis for an agreement so that an immediate ceasefire would result and be effected” (ibid., para. 3). Further, the resolution proposed that the Repatriation Commission would consist of representatives of four States not participating in hostilities, excluding permanent members of the SC. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 54 in favour and 5 against (the USSR, Poland, Czechoslovakia, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic) with 1 abstention (China) (A/RES/610 (VII)).
Following further diplomatic negotiations (including important interventions by Member States such as India), the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission was eventually stood up following the Armistice Agreement signed on 27 July 1953 (and also approved by the GA (A/RES/711(VII))). It was comprised of representatives of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland and operated until February 1954.
While the Repatriation Commission was not described at the time as a peace operation, it comprised functions that are frequently an important part of modern peace operations, including overseeing repatriation, disarmament and otherwise managing exits from conflict.