Hopes forResolution
The Korean War from 1950 to 1953 was the most severe test the United Nations had to face since its inception in 1945. As part of the whole Cold War scenario, the Korean War was a complicated issue with which the United Nations had to successfully deal with or lose credibility just five years after it had come into being.
The United Nations had already involved itself in the affairs of Korea when in 1947, before partition, it had declared its intentions that elections should be held for a government for the whole country and that the United Nations would oversee these elections to ensure that they were fair.
On June 27th 1950, America called on the United Nations to use force to get the North Koreans out as they had ignored the Security Council’s resolution of June 25th. This was also voted for and once again the Russians could not use their veto as they were still boycotting the United Nations. The United Nations had to formulate its plans.
The United Nations received much support for taking robust action against an aggressor nation. South Korea regained its independence and continued to be supported by America. However, Russia had dropped its boycott of the Security Council and had rejoined it during the Korean War. It had used its veto to block numerous Security Council initiatives.
The Korean War gave a clear indication that the United Nations was dominated by America – nearly 90% of all army personnel, 93% of all air power and 86% of all naval power for the Korean War had come from America. This obviously meant that the United Nations could not keep out of the whole Cold War issue.
The United Nations had already involved itself in the affairs of Korea when in 1947, before partition, it had declared its intentions that elections should be held for a government for the whole country and that the United Nations would oversee these elections to ensure that they were fair.
On June 27th 1950, America called on the United Nations to use force to get the North Koreans out as they had ignored the Security Council’s resolution of June 25th. This was also voted for and once again the Russians could not use their veto as they were still boycotting the United Nations. The United Nations had to formulate its plans.
The United Nations received much support for taking robust action against an aggressor nation. South Korea regained its independence and continued to be supported by America. However, Russia had dropped its boycott of the Security Council and had rejoined it during the Korean War. It had used its veto to block numerous Security Council initiatives.
The Korean War gave a clear indication that the United Nations was dominated by America – nearly 90% of all army personnel, 93% of all air power and 86% of all naval power for the Korean War had come from America. This obviously meant that the United Nations could not keep out of the whole Cold War issue.