At the beginning of the Korean War in 1950; the town of Sinchon in North Korea was allegedly the site of a massacre of civilians by occupying U.S forces. North Korean sources claim the number of civilians killed over the 52-day period at over 35000 people; equivalent to one-fourth the county's population at the time The North Korean government has operated the Sinchon Museum of American War Atrocities in Sinchon Town since 1958; displaying relics and remains from the incident.