The Korean War: The United Nations Role

Figure 1.-- The United States would evetully provide the major force to resist Communist Aggression in Korea. There would be, however, some 20 countries that would answer the United Natons call to support South Korea. Here an Australian soldier greets Korean children in 1951.

The new United Nations Organization become involved in Korean affairs from a early point. The intention after World War II was that Korea would become an independent united country. The separate American and Soviet occupation as in Germany complicted this process. The United Nations before partition declared that elections should be held for a government for the whole country and that the United Nations as a neutral body would oversee the elections to ensure that they were fair. After elections were held in South Korea, the United Nations declared that the elections had been fair (1947). The Soviets refused, however, to permit United Nations observers to assess the elections in the north. As a result, the United Nations refused to declared that the elections were fair as there was no independentl observers. After the elections, South Korea (Republic of Korea--ROK) and North Korea (Dempcratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) formed separate states (1948). The industrialized north was supported and heavily armed by the Soviet Union. The largely agricultural south received American assistance, but only limited military aid and few heavy weapons. Both Korean governments claimed to be the ligitimatae government of Korea. The Communist victory in China and the Soviet test of an atomic device changed the strategic balance in East Asia (1949). Stalin gave the go ahead for a North Korean invasion of the South. The havily armed DPRK Army struck (June 25, 1950). President Truman ordered U.S. support for South Korea and asked for United Nations action. U.N. Secretary General Trygve Halvdan Lie convened the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for its 473rd meeting only hours after the North Korean invasion (June 25). He began the meeting with a detailed report from the U.N. Commission on Korea, explained the situation on the ground. Lie insisted that the United Nations take action to restore peace in Korea. The U.N. Commission on Korea reported that the invasion was in fact the outbreak of full-scale warfare. Then the U.S. delegate Ernest A. Gross presented arport from U.S. Ambassador Muccio. Next the United States introduced a resolution stating that North Korea's invasion was a clear breach of peace in violation of Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. Gross requested that South Korea's ambassador to the United Nations, Chang Myon, be allowed to partcipate in the proceedings. The Yugoslavian delegate, the only Communist represettive present, requested that a North Korean diplomat be present as well, but the Security Council rejected the request. North Korea was not a member of the United Nation as the 1947 elections were not seen as legitimte. And North Korea had no representation present in New York that could participate. Ambassador Myon read a prepared statement calling the invasion of his country a crime against humanity, using the language of the Nuremberg Trials. He pointed out that the United Nations had played a major role in the founding of South Korea and it was now their responsibility to help defend it from North Korean aggression. The UNSC debated the U.S. resolution and made amendments and revisions before passing it (June 25). The U.N. was able to act because the Soviet Union at the time was bycotting the Securty Council. The Soviets found this an effective way of preventing action in occupied Germany. They soon learned that different tactics would be needed in the United Nations. It was a huge mistake which they did not repeat again. Boycotting the Security Council simply meant that the Soviets were unable to exercize their veto perogative. The Security Council resolution condemned the invasion as an act of aggression, demanded the withdrawal of DPRK forces from the South, and called upon its members to aid South Korea. The United Nations placed the forces of member nations under U.S. command. The United States would provide the bulk of the forces resisting Communist aggression in Korea. There would, however, be some 20 U.N. member countries who would join the United States and South Korea in fighting off Communist aggression. The largestof tese contributors was Britain. Other countries included: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, and Turkey.

Post-World War II Involvement

The new United Nations Organization become involved in Korean affairs from a early point. The intention after World War II was that Korea would become an independent, united country. The separate American and Soviet occupation as in Germany complicted this process. The United Nations before partition declared that elections should be held for a government for the whole country and that the United Nations as a neutral body would oversee the elections to ensure that they were fair. After elections were held in South Korea, the United Nations declared that the elections had been fair (1947). The Soviets refused, however, to permit United Nations observers to assess the elections in the north. As a result, the United Nations refused to declare that the elections were fair as there was no independentl observers.

Separate States

The two power occupation at the end of World War II led to the division of Korea. After the United Nations-sponsored elections, South Korea (Republic of Korea--ROK) and North Korea (Dempcratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) formed separate states (1948). The industrialized north was not only supported theDPRK, but heavily armed by the Soviet Union. The largely agricultural south received American assistance, but only limited military aid and few heavy weapons. Both Korean governments claimed to be the legitimate government of Korea. The Communist used 'democratic' in the official name of North Korea is notable. Other Communist countries decided to due this like the Democratic German Republic (East Germany). This was a fiction, but a recognition that democracy was an ultimste good. Thus it was included in the name of the country. They were not about, however, to allow actual democratic elections.

North Korean Invasion (June 25, 1950)

The Communist victory in China and the Soviet test of an atomic device changes the strategic balance in East Asia. Stalin gave the go ahead for a North Korean invasion of the South. The heavily armed DPRK Army struck (June 25, 1950). President Truman ordered U.S. support for South Korea and asked for United Nations action.

Security Council Action (June 25, 1950)

U.N. Secretary General Trygve Halvdan Lie convened the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for its 473rd meeting only hours after the North Korean invasion (June 25). He began the meeting with a detailed report from the U.N. Commission on Korea, explained the situation on the ground. Lie insisted that the United Nations take action to restore peace in Korea. The U.N. Commission on Korea reported that the invasion was in fact the outbreak of full-scale warfare. Then the U.S. delegate Ernest A. Gross presented arport from U.S. Ambassador Muccio. Next the United States introduced a resolution stating that North Korea's invasion was a clear breach of peace in violation of Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. Gross requested that South Korea's ambassador to the United Nations, Chang Myon, be allowed to partcipate in the proceedings. The Yugoslavian delegate, the only Communist represettive oresent, requested that a North Korean diplomat be present as well, but the Security Council rejected the request. North Korea was not a member of the United Nation as the 1947 elections were not seen as legitimte. And North Korea had no representation present in New York that could participate. Ambassador Myon read a prepared statement calling the invasion of his country a crime against humanity, using the language of the Nuremberg Trials. He pointed out that the United Nations had played a major role in the founding of South Korea and it was now their responsibility to help defend it from North Korean aggression. The UNSC debated the U.S. resolution and made amendments and revisions before passing it (June 25). The U.N. was able to act because the Soviet Union at the time was bycotting the Securty Council. The Soviets found this an effective way of preventing action in occupied Germany. They soon learned that different tactics would be needed in the United Nations. It was a huge mistake which they did not repeat again. Boycotting the Security Council simply meant that the Soviets were unable to exercize their veto perogative. The Security Council resolution condemned the invasion as an act of aggression, demanded the withdrawal of DPRK forces from the South, and called upon its members to aid South Korea.

United Nations Command

The United Nations placed the forces of member nations under U.S. command. The United States would provide the bulk of the forces resisting Communist aggression in Korea. There would, however, be some 20 U.N. member countries who would join the United States and South Korea in fighting off Communist aggression. The largest of these contributors was Britain. Other participating countries included: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, and Turkey. Even neutral Sweden particiated, providing non-combatant forces. Taiwan did not participate because the United States had not yet made a commitment to the Nationalists and Nationalists participation would have only reignited the Chinese Civil War. Taiwan The Korean War like the Cold War in gerneral was a long effort involving many countries. The United States was the indispensablw country. Soviet aggression could not have been resisted without American involvement. But the support of the 20 countries that partici[pate was very important. Of course on the other hand, the Soviet Union was the indespenable country as well. Without the Soviets, there would have been no Cold War and no invasion of South Korea.

Created: 8:33 AM 7/16/2016
Last updated: 12:29 AM 12/2/2016