Department of State Publication, Foreign Affairs Outlines: Building the Peace, The Fight Against Aggression in Korea

Foreign Affairs Outlines BUILDING THE Peace PREPARED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE AUTUMN 1950 No. 24 The Fight Against Aggression in Korea RECORDS SERVICE'R AGGRESSION AGAINST THE REPUBLIC Meeting the Emergency OF KOREA The sudden attack on the Republic of Korea marked The unprovoked attack on the Republic of Korea by a change in communist tactics from subversion to open the communist forces of North Korea on June 25, 1950, aggression. If left unchallenged, it would threaten the brought to a climax the long record of communist opposi- security and the way of life of the free world and under- tion to efforts of the United States and the United Na- mine the authority of the United Nations, whose primary tions to establish a single, freely elected government for purpose is "To maintain international peace and security, all Korea. and to that end: to take effective measures for The events surrounding this crisis have served to em- the suppression of acts of aggression". phasize the aims, purposes, and methods of international Immediate and courageous action had to be taken to communism under Soviet guidance and to give some indi- support the peaceful efforts of the United States, the United cation of the lengths to which it is willing to go to attain Nations, and the Republic of Korea itself to achieve a free its objectives. They have also put the United Nations and independent Korea, to discourage acts of aggression and free peoples everywhere to the supreme test, to de- elsewhere in the world, and to prevent this communist termine whether they will stand firm against aggression, lawlessness from erupting into full-scale war in which the even under adverse circumstances and in distant parts of entire world might become involved. the world, in the realization that, though the fire be dis- tant at the moment, if it is not extinguished it will surely United Nations Action spread and will ultimately threaten our own homes. The Accordingly, on June 25, United States time, within 15 facts in this dramatic chapter of post-World War II his- hours of the receipt of news of the North Korean assault tory which is now unfolding in Korea reveal the grave on the Republic of Korea, the United States representative character of some of the problems which lie ahead for on the United Nations Security Council presented a those peoples who would preserve their liberties and "cease-fire" resolution to an emergency meeting of the strengthen the free world. Security Council. This resolution was passed by a vote United Nations Report on Aggression of 9 to o, with the Soviet Union's representative boycotting the meeting and the Yugoslav delegate abstaining. The aggressive character of the communist attack on The resolution noted "with grave concern the armed the Republic of Korea was established by a United Na- attack upon the Republic of Korea by forces from North tions commission-the United Nations Commission on Korea" and stated that the Security Council- Korea-which was on the scene of action. "Determines that this action constitutes a breach of the The report of the Commission to the Secretary-General peace, of the United Nations on June 26, 1950, made it unmis- "I. Calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities; and takably clear that the northern regime had launched a "Calls upon the authorities of North Korea to withdraw forth- "well-planned, concerted and full-scale invasion" against with their armed forces to the thirty-eighth parallel; a peaceful nation. This report was supported by the "II. Requests the United Nations Commission on Korea findings of a United Nations team of military observers To observe the withdrawal of the North Korean forces to (appointed pursuant to the General Assembly resolution the thirty-eighth parallel; and of October 21, 1949) who had concluded an inspection To keep the Security Council informed on the execution of this resolution; tour along the border on June 24, 1950, and who reported "III. Calls upon all Members to render every assistance to the to the President of the United Nations Security Council United Nations in the execution of this resolution and to refrain from on June 29. giving assistance to the North Korean authorities." 906419°-50