United Nations Command

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United Nations Command
유엔사령부
United Nations Command logo.svg
UNC
ActiveJuly 7, 1950 – present
CountryUnited Nations
AllegianceUnited Nations
EngagementsKorean War 1950–1953
Korean Conflict 1950–Present
Websitewww.unc.mil
Commanders
Current
commander
GEN Paul J. LaCamera
Deputy Commander VADM Stuart Mayer
Senior Enlisted Leader CSM Walter A. Tagalicud
Notable
commanders
GA Douglas MacArthur
GEN Matthew Ridgway
Headquarters of the United Nations Command and ROK-US Combined Forces Command in 2009.

United Nations Command (UNC or UN Command)[1] is the multinational military force that supported the Republic of Korea (South Korea) during and after the Korean War. It was the first international unified command in history, and the first attempt at collective security pursuant to the Charter of the United Nations.[1]

The UNC was established on 7 July 1950 following the UN Security Council's recognition of North Korean aggression against South Korea. The motion passed because the Soviet Union, a close ally of North Korea and a member of the UN Security Council, was boycotting the UN at the time over its recognition of the Republic of China rather than the People's Republic of China.[2] UN member states were called to provide assistance in repelling the North's invasion, with the UNC providing a cohesive command structure under which the disparate forces would operate.[3] During the course of the war, 22 nations contributed military or medical personnel to UN Command;[1] although the United States led the UNC and provided the bulk of its troops and funding, all participants formally fought under the auspices of the UN,[4] with the operation classified as a "UN-led police action".[5]

On 27 July 1953, United Nations Command, the Korean People's Army, and the Chinese People's Volunteers signed the Korean Armistice Agreement, ending open hostilities. The agreement established the Military Armistice Commission (MAC), consisting of representatives of the signatories, to supervise the implementation of the armistice terms, and the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC), composed of nations that did not participate in the conflict, to monitor the armistice's restrictions on the parties' reinforcing or rearming themselves.[Note 1][6] In 1975, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 3390 (XXX), which expressed the hope that UNC would be dissolved on 1 January 1976.[7] The UNC continues to function as of 2019.[8]

Since 1953, UNC's primary duties have been to maintain the armistice and facilitate diplomacy between North and South Korea.[9] Although "MAC" meetings have not occurred since 1994, UN Command representatives routinely engage members of the Korean People's Army in formal and informal meetings. The most recent formal negotiations on the terms of Armistice occurred between October and November 2018. Duty officers from both sides of the Joint Security Area (commonly known as the Truce Village of Panmunjom) conduct daily communications checks and have the ability to engage face-to-face when the situation demands.[10]

Origin and legal status[]

United Nations Command operates under the mandates of UN Security Council Resolutions 82, 83, and 84. These only passed because the Soviet Union was boycotting the UN for giving China's seat in the Security council to Taiwan, and because Taiwan had China's seat in the Security Council.[11] While the UN had some military authority through Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, Cold War tensions meant that the forces envisaged in those articles had never become reality. Thus the UN had little practical ability to raise a military force in response to the North Korean invasion of the South. Consequently, the UN Security Council designated the United States as the executive agent for leading a "unified command" under the UN flag. As such, the United Nations exercised no control over the combat forces. However, as this represented one of the first attempts at collective security under the UN system, UN leadership maintained a close relationship with UN Command during the war and for years after hostilities ceased.

When the warring parties signed the Korean Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953, the UNC delivered the Agreement to the United Nations. In August 1953, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution “noting with approval” the Armistice Agreement, a step that was critical for the UN to take the next step of organizing the 1954 Geneva Conference meant to negotiate a diplomatic peace between North and South Korea. The adoption of the Korean Armistice Agreement in the General Assembly underwrites UN Command's current role of maintaining and enforcing the Armistice Agreement.

The role of the United States as the executive agent for the unified command has led to questions over its continued validity. Most notably, in 1994, UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali wrote in a letter to the North Korean Foreign Minister that:

the Security Council did not establish the unified command as a subsidiary organ under its control, but merely recommended the creation of such a command, specifying that it be under the authority of the United States. Therefore the dissolution of the unified command does not fall within the responsibility of any United Nations organ but is a matter within the competence of the Government of the United States.[12]

The UN's official position is that the Korean War-era Security Council and General Assembly resolutions remain in force. This was evidenced in 2013 when North Korea announced unilateral abrogation of the Armistice Agreement: UN spokesman Martin Nesirky asserted that since the Armistice Agreement had been adopted by the General Assembly, no single party could dissolve it unilaterally. The UNC continues to serve as the signatory and party of the Armistice opposite the Korean People's Army.

Establishment in 1950[]

After troops of North Korea invaded South Korea on 25 June 1950, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 82 calling on North Korea to cease hostilities and withdraw to the 38th parallel.[13]

Two days later, the UNSC adopted Resolution 83, recommending that members of the United Nations provide assistance to the Republic of Korea "to repel the armed attack and to restore international peace and security to the area".[14]

The first non-Korean and non-U.S. unit to see combat was the No. 77 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force, which began escort, patrol and ground attack sorties from Iwakuni, Japan on 2 July 1950. On 29 June 1950, New Zealand made preparations to dispatch two Loch class frigates,Tutira and Pukaki, to Korean waters;[15] on 3 July, the ships left Devonport Naval Base, Auckland and joined other Commonwealth forces at Sasebo, Japan on 2 August. For the duration of the war, at least two NZ vessels would be on station in the theater.

Resolution 84, adopted on 7 July 1950, recommended that members providing military forces and other assistance to South Korea "make such forces and other assistance available to a unified command under the United States of America".[16]

President Syngman Rhee of the Republic of Korea assigned operational command of ROK ground, sea, and air forces to General MacArthur as Commander-in-Chief UN Command (CINCUNC) on 15 July 1950:

In view of the common military effort of the United Nations on behalf of the Republic of Korea, in which all military forces, land, sea and air, of all the United Nations fighting in or near Korea have been placed under your operational command, and in which you have been designated Supreme Commander United Nations Forces, I am happy to assign to you command authority over all land, sea, and air forces of the Republic of Korea during the period of the continuation of the present state of hostilities, such command to be exercised either by you personally or by such military commander or commanders to whom you may delegate the exercise of this authority within Korea or in adjacent seas.[17]

On 29 August 1950, the British Commonwealth's 27th Infantry Brigade arrived at Busan to join UNC ground forces, which until then included only ROK and U.S. forces. The 27th Brigade moved into the Naktong River line west of Daegu.

Units from other countries of the UN followed: the Belgian United Nations Command, the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade, the Colombian Battalion,[18] the Ethiopian Kagnew Battalion, the French Battalion, the Greek 15th Infantry Regiment, New Zealand's 16th Field Regiment and Royal New Zealand Artillery, the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea, the South African No. 2 Squadron SAAF, the Turkish Brigade, and forces from Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Additionally, Denmark, India, Iran, Norway and Sweden provided medical units; Italy provided a hospital, even though it was not a UN member.

By 1 September 1950, less than two months before the formation of United Nations Command, these combined forces numbered 180,000, of which 92,000 were South Koreans, with most of the remainder being Americans, followed by the 1,600-man British 27th Infantry Brigade.

Commander[]

No. Commander Term Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
Douglas MacArthur
MacArthur, DouglasGeneral of the Army
Douglas MacArthur
(1880–1964)
7 July 195011 April 1951278 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
2
Matthew Ridgway
Ridgway, MatthewGeneral
Matthew Ridgway
(1895–1993)
11 April 195112 May 19521 year, 31 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
3
Mark W. Clark
Clark, MarkGeneral
Mark W. Clark
(1896–1984)
12 May 19527 October 19531 year, 148 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
4
John E. Hull
Hull, JohnGeneral
John E. Hull
(1895–1975)
7 October 19531 April 19551 year, 176 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
5
Maxwell D. Taylor
Taylor, MaxwellGeneral
Maxwell D. Taylor
(1901–1987)
1 April 19555 June 195565 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
6
Lyman Lemnitzer
Lemnitzer, LymanGeneral
Lyman Lemnitzer
(1899–1988)
5 June 19551 July 19572 years, 26 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
7
George Decker
Decker, GeorgeGeneral
George Decker
(1902–1980)
1 July 195730 June 19591 year, 364 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
8
Carter B. Magruder
Magruder, Carter B.General
Carter B. Magruder
(1900–1988)
1 July 195930 June 19611 year, 364 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
9
Guy S. Meloy
Meloy, Guy S.General
Guy S. Meloy
(1903–1968)
1 July 196131 July 19632 years, 30 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
10
Hamilton H. Howze
Howze, Hamilton H.General
Hamilton H. Howze
(1908–1998)
1 August 196315 June 19651 year, 318 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
11
Dwight E. Beach
Beach, Dwight E.General
Dwight E. Beach
(1908–2000)
16 June 196531 August 19661 year, 76 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
12
Charles H. Bonesteel III
Bonesteel, Charles H. IIIGeneral
Charles H. Bonesteel III
(1909–1977)
1 September 196630 September 19693 years, 29 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
13
John H. Michaelis
Michaelis, John H.General
John H. Michaelis
(1912–1985)
1 October 196931 August 19722 years, 335 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
14
Donald V. Bennett
Bennett, Donald V.General
Donald V. Bennett
(1915–2005)
1 September 197231 July 1973333 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
15
Richard G. Stilwell
Stilwell, Richard G.General
Richard G. Stilwell
(1917–1991)
1 August 19738 October 19763 years, 68 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
16
John W. Vessey Jr.
Vessey, John W. Jr.General
John W. Vessey Jr.
(1922–2016)
8 October 197610 July 19792 years, 275 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
17
John A. Wickham Jr.
Wickham, John A. Jr.General
John A. Wickham Jr.
(born 1928)
10 July 19794 June 19822 years, 329 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
18
Robert W. Sennewald
Sennewald, Robert W.General
Robert W. Sennewald
(born 1929)
4 June 19821 June 19841 year, 363 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
19
William J. Livsey
Livsey, William J.General
William J. Livsey
(1931–2016)
1 June 198425 June 19873 years, 24 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
20
Louis C. Menetrey Jr.
Menetrey, Louis C. Jr.General
Louis C. Menetrey Jr.
(1929–2009)
25 June 198726 June 19903 years, 1 dayMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
21
Robert W. RisCassi
RisCassi, Robert W.General
Robert W. RisCassi
(born 1936)
26 June 199015 June 19932 years, 354 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
22
Gary E. Luck
Luck, Gary E.General
Gary E. Luck
(born 1937)
15 June 19939 July 19963 years, 24 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
23
John H. Tilelli Jr.
Tilelli, John H. Jr.General
John H. Tilelli Jr.
(born 1941)
9 July 19969 December 19993 years, 153 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
24
Thomas A. Schwartz
Schwartz, Thomas A.General
Thomas A. Schwartz
(born 1945)
9 December 19991 May 20022 years, 143 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
25
Leon J. LaPorte
LaPorte, Leon J.General
Leon J. LaPorte
(born 1946)
1 May 20023 February 20063 years, 278 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
26
B.B. Bell
Bell, B.B.General
B.B. Bell
(born 1947)
3 February 20063 June 20082 years, 121 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
27
Walter L. Sharp
Sharp, Walter L.General
Walter L. Sharp
(born 1952)
3 June 200814 July 20113 years, 41 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
28
James D. Thurman
Thurman, James D.General
James D. Thurman
(born 1953)
14 July 201112 October 20132 years, 80 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
29
Curtis M. Scaparrotti
Scaparrotti, Curtis M.General
Curtis M. Scaparrotti
(born 1956)
2 October 201330 April 20162 years, 211 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
30
Vincent K. Brooks
Brooks, Vincent K.General
Vincent K. Brooks
(born 1958)
30 April 20168 November 20182 years, 192 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
31
Robert B. Abrams
Abrams, Robert B.General
Robert B. Abrams
(born 1960)
8 November 20182 July 20212 years, 236 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
32
Paul LaCamera
LaCamera, Paul J.General
Paul LaCamera
(born 1963)
2 July 2021Incumbent58 daysMilitary service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army

Deputy Commander[]

No. Deputy Commander Term Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
John B. Coulter
Lieutenant General
John B. Coulter
(1891–1983)
7 July 19501952-Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
2
William Kelly Harrison Jr.
Lieutenant General
William Kelly Harrison Jr.
(1895–1987)
19521954-Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
3
Bruce C. Clarke
Lieutenant General
Bruce C. Clarke
(1901–1988)
19541954-Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
4
Claude Birkett Ferenbaugh
Lieutenant General
Claude Birkett Ferenbaugh
(1899–1975)
10 December 195427 June 1955-Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
5
John Howell Collier
Lieutenant General
John Howell Collier
(1898–1980)
27 June 1955September 1955-Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
6
Charles D. Palmer
Lieutenant General
Charles D. Palmer
(1902–1999)
September 19551958-Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
7
Emerson LeRoy Cummings
Lieutenant General
Emerson LeRoy Cummings
(1902–1986)
December 1958January 1961-Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
8
Andrew T. McNamara
Lieutenant General
Andrew T. McNamara
(1905–2002)
January 19611 October 1961-Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
9
Samuel L. Myers
Lieutenant General
Samuel L. Myers
(1905–1987)
1 October 196131 March 1963-Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
10
Charles W.G. Rich
Lieutenant General
Charles W.G. Rich
(1909–1993)
19641966-Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
11
Vernon P. Mock
Lieutenant General
Vernon P. Mock
(1912–1983)
1966February 1969-Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
12
John H. Michaelis
Michaelis, John H.Lieutenant General
John H. Michaelis
(1912–1985)
February 19691 October 1969-Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
13
John A. Heintges
Lieutenant General
John A. Heintges
(1912–1994)
196922 May 1970-Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
14
Patrick F. Cassidy
Lieutenant General
Patrick F. Cassidy
(1915–1990)
June 197014 September 1971-Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
15
William R. Peers
Lieutenant General
William R. Peers
(1914–1984)
14 September 19711973-Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
16
Richard T. Knowles
Lieutenant General
Richard T. Knowles
(1916–2013)
1973July 1974-Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
17
Edward M. Flanagan, Jr.
Lieutenant General
Edward M. Flanagan, Jr.
(1921–2019)
July 1974May 1975-Military service mark of the United States Army.svg
U.S. Army
18
John J. Burns
Lieutenant General
John J. Burns
(1924–2000)
August 1975June 1977-Mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
19
Charles A. Gabriel
Lieutenant General
Charles A. Gabriel
(1928–2003)
June 19771 April 1979-Mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
20
Evan W. Rosencrans
Lieutenant General
Evan W. Rosencrans
(1926–2007)
1 April 19791 May 19812 years, 30 daysMark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
21
Winfield W. Scott Jr.
Lieutenant General
Winfield W. Scott Jr.
(born 1927)
1 May 1981May 1983-Mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
22
John L. Pickitt
Lieutenant General
John L. Pickitt
(1933–2020)
May 198320 April 1985-Mark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
23
Jack I. Gregory
Lieutenant General
Jack I. Gregory
(born 1931)
20 April 19859 December 19861 year, 233 daysMark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
24
Craven C. Rogers Jr.
Lieutenant General
Craven C. Rogers Jr.
(1934–2016)
9 December 198631 October 19881 year, 327 daysMark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
25
Thomas A. Baker
Lieutenant General
Thomas A. Baker
(born 1935)
31 October 19887 July 19901 year, 249 daysMark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
26
Ronald Fogleman
Lieutenant General
Ronald Fogleman
(born 1942)
7 July 199017 August 19922 years, 41 daysMark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
27
Howell M. Estes III
Lieutenant General
Howell M. Estes III
(born 1941)
17 August 199230 September 19942 years, 44 daysMark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
28
Ronald W. Iverson
Lieutenant General
Ronald W. Iverson
30 September 19947 April 19972 years, 189 daysMark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
29
Joseph E. Hurd
Lieutenant General
Joseph E. Hurd
7 April 199714 September 19992 years, 160 daysMark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
30
Charles R. Heflebower
Lieutenant General
Charles R. Heflebower
14 September 199919 November 20012 years, 66 daysMark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
31
Lance L. Smith
Lieutenant General
Lance L. Smith
(born 1946)
19 November 200119 November 20032 years, 0 daysMark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
32
Garry R. Trexler
Lieutenant General
Garry R. Trexler
19 November 20036 November 20062 years, 352 daysMark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
33
Stephen G. Wood
Lieutenant General
6 November 200624 November 20082 years, 18 daysMark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
34
Jeffrey A. Remington
Lieutenant General
Jeffrey A. Remington
24 November 20086 January 20123 years, 43 daysMark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
35
Jan-Marc Jouas
Lieutenant General
Jan-Marc Jouas
6 January 201219 December 20142 years, 347 daysMark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
36
Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy
O'Shaughnessy, TerrenceLieutenant general
Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy
(born 1962)
19 December 20148 July 20161 year, 202 daysMark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
37
Thomas W. Bergeson
Bergeson, ThomasLieutenant general
Thomas W. Bergeson
(born 1962)
8 July 201630 July 20182 years, 22 daysMark of the United States Air Force.svg
U.S. Air Force
38
Wayne Eyre
Eyre, WayneLieutenant-general
Wayne Eyre
(born 1968)
30 July 201826 July 2019361 daysLesser badge of the Canadian Army.svg
Canadian Army
39
Stuart Mayer
Mayer, StuartVice admiral
Stuart Mayer
(born 1964)
26 July 2019Incumbent2 years, 34 days
Royal Australian Navy

Contributing forces: 1950–1953[]

During the three years of the Korean War, the following nations were members of the UNC.[19] On 27 July 1953, the day the Armistice Agreement was signed, UNC reached a peak strength of 932,964:

  • Combat forces
    • South Korea – 590,911
    • United States – 302,483
    • Canada – 26,791
    • Australia – 17,000
    • United Kingdom – 14,198
    • Thailand – 6,326
    • Ethiopia – 6,007
    • Turkey – 5,453
    • Philippines – 1,468
    • New Zealand – 1,385
    • Greece – 1,263
    • France – 1,119
    • Colombia – 1,068
    • Belgium – 900
    • South Africa – 826
    • Netherlands – 819
    • Luxembourg – 44
  • Humanitarian aid (not counted in total above)
    • Denmark (hospital ship MS Jutlandia) – 600
    • India
    • Italy (68th Field Hospital) – 71[20]
    • Norway (NORMASH)
    • Sweden

During the course of the war, UNC was led by Douglas MacArthur, Matthew B. Ridgway, and Mark Wayne Clark. After the armistice was signed, John E. Hull was named UNC commander to carry out the ceasefire (including the voluntary repatriation of prisoners of war).[21]

Post Korean War (1953–present)[]

Following the signing of the Armistice Agreement, UNC remained in Korea to fulfill the functions of providing security and stability on the Peninsula, as well as supporting UN efforts to rebuild the war-torn Republic of Korea. Much of the fifties was marked by continuous negotiations in Military Armistice Commission meetings while the international community worked to bolster South Korea's economy and infrastructure. During this period, North Korea maintained economic and military superiority over its southern neighbor owing to Chinese and Soviet support.

The sixties proved a tenuous decade on the Korean Peninsula, punctuated by a period of hostilities often referred to as the "Second Korean War." The period between 1966 and 1969 saw a heightened level of skirmishes in the DMZ as well as major incidents including North Korea's attempted assassination of South Korean leader Park Chung-hee and seizure of the USS Pueblo.

The seventies saw a brief period of rapprochement that later contributed to structural changes to UNC. In 1972, the North and South Korean governments signed a Joint Communique calling for more peaceful ties between the two Koreas. Concurrently, consecutive U.S. administrations (Nixon, Ford, and Carter) sought to decrease the South Korean reliance upon U.S. forces for maintaining deterrent capabilities on the Korean Peninsula. On 7 November 1978 a combined headquarters, the Republic of Korea – United States Combined Forces Command (CFC), was created, and the South Korean military units with front-line missions were transferred from the UN Command to the CFC's operational control. The commander-in-chief of the CFC, a United States military officer, answered ultimately to the national command authorities of the United States and that of South Korea.

From 1978, UNC maintained its primary functions of maintaining and enforcing the Korean Armistice Agreement, facilitating diplomacy that could support a lasting peace on the Peninsula, and providing a command that could facilitate multinational contributions should the armistice fail. UNC decreased in size, and over time, many of the billets assigned to UNC became multi-hatted with U.S. Forces Korea and Combined Forces Command.

The 1990s again saw notable change in UNC. In October 1991, UNC transferred responsibility of all DMZ sectors except for the Joint Security Area to the ROK military. In 1992, UNC appointed a South Korean General officer to serve as the Senior Member to the Military Armistice Commission. This led to the Korean People's Army and Chinese People's Volunteers boycotting MAC meetings. The collapse of the Soviet Union also led North Korea to question the alignment of their choices for the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission. They no longer recognized Czech or Slovak representatives of Czechoslovakia when the nation split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 1994, North Korea expelled the Polish delegation and also dismissed the Chinese People's Volunteers from the Panmunjom mission. Owing in part being protest over China's warming ties with South Korea.

Since 1998, UNC has seen a gradual increase of permanent international staff within the command. In between 1998 and 2003, several of the original contributors to the Korean War began deploying personnel to Korea to support UNC's armistice maintenance functions. This internationalization has continued over the next decades. In May 2018,[22] Canadian Lt. General Wayne Eyre became the first non-American to serve as deputy commander of the UNC.[22][23][24][25] Succeeding him was Australian Vice Admiral Stuart Mayer, continuing the trend of non-American leadership in UNC.

UNC-Rear[]

United Nations Command-Rear is located at Yokota Air Base, Japan and is commanded by a Royal Australian Air Force group captain with a deputy commander from the Canadian Forces. Its task is to maintain the SOFA that permits the UNC to retain a logistics rear and staging link on Japanese soil.[26]

Future of the Joint Security Area[]

To further the September 2018 inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement, UN Command, Republic of Korea Armed Forces, and North Korean People's Army officials met in a series of negotiations to deliberate the demilitarization of the Joint Security Area. The first two meetings in October led to Demining activities within the JSA, de-arming of personnel, and sealing off of Guard Posts. On November 6, 2018, UNC conducted a third round of negotiations with the South Korean military and North Korean People's Army on "Rules of Interaction" which would underwrite a Joint Security Area where both sides of the Military Demarcation Line—the de facto border—would be open to personnel. For undisclosed reasons, the North Korean side refused to meet to finalize these rules and the next step for realizing a demilitarized Joint Security Area.

See also[]

  • United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, where 2,300 casualties from various nations are buried

Notes[]

  1. ^ The North Korean-Chinese MAC was replaced by the "Panmunjom Mission" under exclusive North Korean administration.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "United Nations Command > History > 1950–1953: Korean War (Active Conflict)". www.unc.mil. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  2. ^ "United Nations Security Council - History". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  3. ^ "United Nations Command > History > 1950–1953: Korean War (Active Conflict)". www.unc.mil. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  4. ^ "United Nations Command > Resources > FAQs". www.unc.mil. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
  5. ^ "The United Nations in Korea | Harry S. Truman". www.trumanlibrary.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
  6. ^ State Department message to DPRK URL retrieved November 29, 2006
  7. ^ "Question of Korea". United Nations Digital Library. United Nations Digital Library. 1976. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  8. ^ Salmon, Andrew (May 8, 2019). "In South Korea, a UN Command that isn't". Asia Times. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  9. ^ "Let the UN Command Remain a Tool for Korean Peace". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
  10. ^ Joint Security Area / Panmunjom URL retrieved April 9, 2006
  11. ^ "United Nations Security Council - History".
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  13. ^ "United Nations Security Council Resolution 82" (PDF). 25 June 1950. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
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  15. ^ Korean ScholarshipsNavy Today, Defence Public Relations Unit, Issue 133, 8 June, Page 14-15
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  19. ^ United Nations Command Archived March 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine retrieved June 27, 2011
  20. ^ Personnel from the Italian Red Cross Military Corps (Corpo Militare della Croce Rossa Italiana) and the Italian Red Cross Volunteer Nurses Corps (Corpo delle Infermiere Volontarie della Croce Rossa Italiana).
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  22. ^ Jump up to: a b "UN Command names Canadian to key post in South Korea for the first time". The Globe and Mail. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  23. ^ Pinkerton, Charlie (2018-11-05). "Canadians at centre of 'potentially historic turning point' in Korea – iPolitics". Ipolitics.ca. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
  24. ^ "Deputy Commander UNC > United States Forces Korea > Article View". Usfk.mil. 2015-05-01. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
  25. ^ "Can United Nations Command become catalyst for change in the Korean peninsula?". National Interest. November 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  26. ^ "Fact Sheet" (PDF). December 22, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2018.

Further reading[]

  • Grey, Jeffrey. The Commonwealth Armies and the Korean War: An Alliance Study. Manchester University Press, 1990.
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