Examining the Role of the United Nations in the Korean War: A Closer Look at US Interests
TITLE
‘In the Korean War, the United States used the United Nations only to promote its own interests.
ESSAY
The view that the United States used the United Nations in the Korean War solely to promote its own interests carries some validity when examining the historical context and actions taken during the conflict. While the US justified its involvement in the war by citing the principles of the Truman Doctrine and the need to contain the spread of communism, there were clear instances where American interests appeared to take precedence over the objectives of the United Nations.
The United States played a crucial role in pushing for UN intervention in response to North Korea's invasion of South Korea in 1950. With the Soviet Union boycotting the Security Council due to other geopolitical issues, the US was able to rally support for a resolution authorizing the use of force against North Korea. The fact that the US had already decided to intervene in the conflict prior to UN approval raises questions about the extent to which the UN was used to legitimize pre-existing American policies rather than as a platform for collective decision-making.
Furthermore, the dominance of American influence within the UN command structure and the decision-making process during the war further supports the argument that US interests were paramount. American officers led the UN command and reported back to Washington, with the US essentially dictating military strategies and actions without significant input or oversight from other UN member states. The decision to cross the 38th parallel and advance towards the Manchurian border without UN consent, as well as the subsequent condemnation of China as aggressors at American behest, point to a pattern of US control over UN policies during the conflict.
The overwhelming majority of military resources contributed to the Korean War came from the United States, highlighting the extent of American dominance in the conflict. The significant US military presence and the subsequent outcome of the war, including the ceasefire at Panmunjom and the continued support for South Korea, indicate that American interests played a central role in shaping the conflict's resolution.
While the United Nations provided a platform for international action in response to the Korean War, there is evidence to suggest that the US exerted significant control over decision-making and military operations, raising doubts about the extent to which the UN was used to advance broader global interests rather than serving as a truly multilateral body. The Korean War serves as a complex case study in the intersection of superpower politics, Cold War dynamics, and the role of international organizations in conflicts driven by geopolitical considerations.
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HISTORY
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A LEVEL
NOTES
In the Korean War, the United States used the United Nations only to promote its own interests.’
Evaluate this view.
The USA believed they had a responsibility to show their commitment to the Truman Doctrine as they had promised to help countries threatened by communism. The invasion of South Korea by the North took place on 25 June 1950. The Security Council of the UN met the same day, but the Soviet delegation to the Security Council did not attend the meeting. They were boycotting the UN for recognizing Chiang Kai-shek’s government in Taiwan as the official government of China. The Soviet Union was unable to use its veto. The USA claimed that North Korea had broken world peace by attacking the South and demanded that North Korea withdraw to the 38th parallel. Nine out of the eleven countries in the Security Council supported this resolution. The demand was ignored by North Korea and on 27 June 1950, the United States requested that the UN use force against the North Koreans to stop the communist threat and to restore peace.
The Soviets could not use their veto as they were still boycotting the UN. It was agreed that sixteen member states would provide troops under a United Nations Joint Command. It would fight with the South Korean Army. Intervention had been organized by the Security Council and had received the support of the bulk of the membership. Such action would help to strengthen the UN. It was the UN members that agreed to deal with the North Korean aggression, and the UN received much support for taking action against an aggressor nation.
The UN General Assembly had reaffirmed at each session since 1947 that its objectives were to establish a united and democratic Korea, but the Soviet Union maintained that this was a one-side resolution of the assembly. However, it can be argued that the UN was very much under the control of the United States during the war, and that the United States effectively made the decisions only in its own interests. Policies had already been determined in Washington; the UN was used to give them legitimacy. The United States had decided to intervene in the war long before the Security Council passed the resolutions authorizing it. They would not tolerate communist infiltration into South Korea. They were concerned about the domino effect, and that Japan would be the next to fall to communism affecting US trade. The UN command consisted of American officers who reported to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, and the UN took no practical part in determining the tactics. It was American pressure that led to the General Assembly’s agreement to cross the 38th parallel, and the decision to advance to the Manchurian border was taken without UN consent.
The UN reluctantly condemned the Chinese as aggressors at American request. It was an American war and UN policy was made and executed by the US government. On 15 September 1950, UN troops landed at Inchon. The landing was a great success and the UN effectively cut the North Korean army in half and pushed them out of South Korea. MacArthur then advanced into North Korea ignoring the warnings from communist China. This resulted in a Chinese attack on UN troops and between November 1950 and January 1951, the Chinese managed to push back the UN force. After a clash with President Truman, MacArthur was sacked, and the war degenerated into a war of stalemate. Nearly 90% of all army personnel, 93% of all air power, and 86% of all naval power for the Korean War came from the United States. In 1953, a ceasefire was agreed at Panmunjom. South Korea regained its independence and continued to be supported by the United States.