Page 551 - Le Operazioni Interforze e Multinazionali nella Storia Militare - ACTA Tomo I

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with the UN Commission for Unification and Rehabilitation of Korea (UNCURK),
which also liaised between the UN entities in New York and the Unified Command on
the ground, like the predecessor body. 2

The Unified Command
The invasion of North Korea changed the situation and the crisis raised at the highest
level, becoming a major issue of the Security Council.
3
The first resolution, 82 S/1501 25 Jun.1950, which the Security Council passed ,
referred to the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a withdrawal of North
th
Korean force to the 38 parallel. The second one, the Resolution 83 S/1511 of 27 June
recommended “that the Members of the United Nations furnish such assistance to
the Republic of Korea as may be necessary to repel the armed attack and to restore
international peace and security in the area”. This purpose was confirmed in paragraph
I of the third resolution, 84 S/1588 of 7 July 1950, which established the Unified
Command.
While the mandate of the UN Forces was thus clear enough, some controversy did
arise as to whether it envisaged the achievement of the objective of reunification by
4
military means. The UN was, in principle, committed to the notion of a unified Korea;
and General MacArthur clearly thought that the UN forces should not forfeit the military
opportunity of reuniting the country. This controversy arose sharply in the context of
whether he should cross the Yalu River in order to destroy the sanctuaries of Chinese
support for North Korea itself.
The majority at the UN General Assembly came to be, especially in the light of
military hardship, that the purpose of the UN action was limited to repulsing the attack
against South Korea and securing an honourable e peace. Ultimate reunification,
however, remained a UN political objective, as several resolutions of General Assembly
witness it.

The constitutional framework and the political control
The constitutional basis of the UN action in Korea has been the subject of much
controversy. Argument had centered on two major factors: first, the absence of Soviet
Union from the Security Council when the three crucial resolutions of that organ were
passed; and, second, and the fact that the UN was de facto engaging on enforcement
action without Article 43 of the Charter ever having been implemented.
The Unified Command was established at the request of the Security Council, and
may thus be seen as a fully agent of the UN. So far, military and strategic authority was
exclusively with the US, under whom the Unified Command had been formed.
Even in political matters the Unified Command retained very considerable latitude,
though here there was a somewhat greater interplay with the UN Secretariat and
2 UNGAR 377 (V) 3 Nov. 1950; P. Londey, Other people’s wars. A history of Australian peacekeeping,
Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest, 2004; pp30-39; UNCURK operated till 1964
3 UNSCR 82 S/1501, 25 June 1950;
4 UNGAR 377 (V) 3 Nov. 1950;