A joint resolution condemning the Soviet criminal destruction of the Korean civilian airliner.
PL 98-98 (H.J.Res.353), enacted 09/28/1983

PUBLIC LAW 98-98—SEPT. 28, 1983 
97 STAT. 715 
Public Law 98-98 
98th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
C!ondemning the Soviet criminal destruction of the Korean civilian airliner. 
Whereas the United States joins with the world community in 
expressing its outrage over the actions of the Soviet Government 
on August 31, 1983, which caused the destruction of Korean Air 
Lines flight 7 with the loss of two hundred and sixty-nine innocent 
lives; 
WhereEis on August 31, 1983, Korean Air Lines flight 7 inadvert-
ently entered Soviet airspace; 
Whereas Soviet authorities tracked Korean Air Lines flight 7 for 
more than two hours, but did not adhere to all the internationally 
recognized procedures necessary to warn the aircraft that it was 
off course and to protect its passengers; 
Whereas a Soviet Air Force fighter fired air-to-air missiles at 
Korean Air Lines flight 7 and destroyed the unarmed, clearly 
marked civilian airliner with two hundred and sixty-nine inno-
cent men, women, and children from fourteen nations aboard, 
including sixty-one of our fellow citizens; 
Whereas among the victims was a distinguished Member of Con-
gress, the Honorable Larry P. McDonald; 
Whereas the highest levels of the Soviet Government have lied in an 
attempt to justify this unconscionable act and have continued to 
deny access to the area where the airplane went down; 
Whereas the Soviet Government has publicly proclaimed its inten-
tion to repeat its murderous act if another airliner wanders 
inadvertently into Soviet airspace; and 
Whereas this cold-blooded barbarous attack on a commercial air-
liner straying off course is one of the most infamous and reprehen-
sible acts in history: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the United 
States hereby— 
/ 
(1) condemns the Soviet crime of destroying Korean Air Lines 
flight 7 and murdering the two hundred and sixty-nine innocent 
people onboard; 
(2) calls for a full and frank explanation from the Soviet 
Union for this brutal massacre; 
(3) extends its deepest sympathies to the families who lost 
loved ones, and supports their rights to obtain reparations from 
the Soviet Union; 
(4) calls on the Soviet Union to assist international efforts to 
recover the remains of the victims; 
(5) calls for an international investigation by the Interna-
tional Civil Aviation Organization into this heinous incident; 
(6) declares its intention to work with the international com-
munity in demanding that the Soviet Union modify its air 
defense procedures and practices to assure the safe passage of 
commercial airliners; 
Sept. 28, 1983 
[H.J. Res. 353] 
Soviet 
destruction of 
Korean airliner, 
condemnation. 
97 STAT. 716 
PUBLIC LAW 98-98—SEPT. 28, 1983 
(7) finds that this tragic incident, and the Soviet Govern-
ment's refusal to acknowledge responsibility for its wanton 
conduct, will make it more difficult for the United States and 
other nations to accept the Soviet Union as a responsible 
member of the international community; and 
(8) urges our allies and other nations to cooperate with the 
United States in continuing to demand that the Soviet Govern-
ment unequivocally apologize for its actions, fully compensate 
the families of the innocent victims, and agree to abide by 
internationally recognized and established procedures which 
are purposefully designed to prevent the occurrence of such 
tragedies. 
Approved September 28, 1983. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.J. Res. 353 (S.J. Res. 158): 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 129 (1983): 
Sept. 14, considered and passed House. 
Sept. 15, considered and passed Senate. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 19, No. 39 (1983): 
Sept. 28, Presidential statement.