Why, and with what success, did the UN intervene in the Korean War?

The Korean War was the first war the United Nations had to face. The new world organization had come into existence a mere five years ago. The UN was established immediately after World War II and replaced the League of Nations. Its goals were to maintain international peace and security and to achieve cooperation in solving international conflicts. The name was coined by President F.D. Roosevelt and officially began January 1st 1942 when 26 countries joined. In attempts to not make the same mistakes the League of Nations made, the UN took action and played a military role in the Korean War.

After the Second World War, Korea had been divided into two halves at the 38th parallel. In 1948, rival governments were established in North and South Korea. The Korean War began June 25th 1950 when North Korean troops invaded South Korea. The Security Council demanded an immediate end to hostilities and said this invasion a "violation of international peace". They commanded the North Koreans vacate from the south but as the communists continued fighting, the UN authorized member nations to send military aid South Korea. The UN's initial reason for entering the Korean War was to push North Koreans back onto their side of the country. Though the United States contributed 90% of the troops, military equipment and supplies,( The United States spent about $67 billion on the war. ) dozens of countries sent troops, arms, money, and medical supplies as aid.

The Korean War finally came to an end on July 27th 1953 when the United Nations and North Korea signed an armistice agreement. A permanent peace treaty between the North and South has never been signed but the US still has military forces in South Korea to discourage further hostilities. The United Nations helped with truce talks. In 1951, June 23rd a Soviet delegate to the United Nations had proposed a cease-fire. Armistices were suggested various times over the next few years but the battle waged on. This delay was mainly due to the fact that several issues were undecided. For example, reparations and prisoners of war. The UN suggested that prisoners from both North and South Korea should have the choice to choose whether or not they wanted to return to their homelands. Some North Korean and Chinese captives refused to return home and protested against a forced return. Both sides were charged with torture, mistreatment and other war crimes. The North Koreans and Chinese were also accused of brainwashing their prisoners. A buffer zone was created, roughly 4 kilometers wide along the final battle line. South Korea gained 1,500 square miles of territory.

The United Nations was often seen as a copy of the League of Nations. People had little or no respect for it. The Korean War was the first opportunity the United Nations had to prove that they were going to succeed. The Korean War proved that the UN was capable of taking action and authority. That they wouldn't make the same mistakes the League of Nations made. The UN took action. After much struggle, they did do what they had promised. The United Nations pushed North Koreans back and out of the south. However, the UN was also portrayed as a puppet and an "elite" club. Some believed that the UN was the United State's lapdog and did whatever it told them to. The Soviets pointed out that the UN was simply a tool of the US. The UN was and still is, to some extent, an "elite" club. After the Korean War, Third World countries began to support the UN less.