INVOLVEMENT OF UN

• Involvement of the UN in KW

  • 25 June 1950, 90 000 NK troops crossed the 38th parallel with 150 tanks and launched a surprise attack on South Korea, triggering the Korean War

  • June 28, Seoul had fallen.

  • Truman called upon the UN to support South Korea and put a stop to the communist aggression

  • The UN Security Council condemned the invasion and called for an immediate end to hostilities

  • NK did not respond

  • Truman then urged the UN to employ the use of force to repel the NK attack

  • A “police action” was thus organized and deployed to Korea to resist the invaders.
• Involvement of the UN in KW

  • US General Douglas MacArthur was put in charge of the U.N. Joint Command, which included combat and medical units from the 16 member states.

  • The United States provided 50% of the ground forces (South Korea provided most of the remainder), 86% of the naval power, and 93% of the air power

  • Throughout the war, South Korea was extremely dependent on USA/UN help in organizational skills, resources, strong leadership & war strategies
• Involvement of the UN in KW

  • NK had captured most of SK

  • Sep 1950, MacArthur ordered an amphibious invasion at the port of Inchon

  • The Americans quickly gained control of Inchon, recaptured Seoul within days, and cut the North Korean supply lines

  • NK retreated north of the 38th Parallel rather than be completely cut off

  • Over 125,000 North Korean prisoners were taken

  • General MacArthur planned to ‘liberate’ North Korea from

  communism

  • USA granted permission to MacArthur to push further into North Korea only allowed if Soviet and Chinese forces did not get involved.