UN involvement in Korea

• UN adopts resolutions requiring North Korea to have their troops withdraw - only possible as USSR was boycotting UN over refusal to recognise China's communist government.

  • 1950: UN Forces pushed Communist back to Chinese border
  • August 1950: USSR returned to UN and took presidency of Security council.
  • October 1990: Chinese enter war with communists - USSR would veto resolutions to stop Chinese involvement
• General Assembly passed resolution 377:

  • Also known as 'Uniting for peace'

  Enabled General Assembly to call emergency meeting if 7 members request it - then call for collective action.

  • July 1953: Managed to get both sides to agree on armistice.
• The UN's involvement in Korea bolstered its reputation.

  • It was the first time UN forces were deployed to restore peace
  • Showed international cooperation was possible if no one vetoed.
  • 'Uniting for peace' resolution passed -causing checks and balances on 'veto' of permanent members.
  • Some sought UN as tool of UN foreign policy