Hello Delegates, and Welcome to the Historic Security Council, Where We Will Work Together

Hello delegates, and welcome to the Historic Security Council, where we will work together and make history. My name is Vamsi Mokkapati, and I will be your Head Chair during our conference. I am a senior at Mission Viejo High, and something you should know about me: I am a lively figure. I look forward to seeing you all in committee, and I hope that you will all work together to form the most efficient resolutions to these crises of history. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected].

I. Background of Topic: It all started on June 25, 1950, when North Korea surprised the world with an attack on South Korea. This attack has been thoroughly planned, though, by not only the North’s leader Kim Il Sung, but with his allies Josef Stalin from Russia and Mao Zedong from China. After looking out for a strategic time to attack the South to spread communistic influences, DPRK decided to attack at the South’s vulnerable moment, when all the United States troops left the nation, and it was seen as strategically disadvantageous for American troops to aid the South. In order to deal with this situation, America’s President Truman, taking advantage of the boycott of the Soviet delegation, created a UN force–composed mainly of American troops–to defend South Korea, in accordance to his policy of the containment of the spread of communism. This was not passed by the US Congress as a war, but was seen as a “police action” in which the United States was participating. In the first phase of the war, the South Korean forces and General Douglas MacArthur’s team of US forces met with defeat, when the North Korean army pushed the forces to the tip of the peninsula. However, the tables turned during the Battle of Inchon, where MacArthur, even with the opposition of the Pentagon, arranged for an amphibious attack by ships and aircraft. Due to America’s superior air force, South Korea regained control of its capital, Seoul, and the KPA, the North’s army, was faced with major losses, including the destruction of many of its tanks and artillery. After this battle, Truman sent the message to MacArthur that operations north of the 38th parallel were only acceptable if there “was no entry into North Korea by major Soviet or Chinese Communist forces, no announcement of intended entry, nor a threat to counter our operations militarily...” However, after the KPA refused to surrender under MacArthur’s leadership, he marched north of the 38th parallel, even with China’s threats stating that it will resist threats to its security. In November of 1950, a very large amount of Chinese soldiers crossed the border into North Korea, and overwhelmed the UN forces. This resulted in one of the worst military defeats in US military history, and drove MacArthur’s forces out of North Korea.

II. UN Involvement On June 25, 1950, the day North Korea launched its attack, the UN Security Council condemned the North’s actions with Resolution 82. The Soviet Union was boycotting the Council meetings, saying that the Republic of China (Taiwan), not the People’s Republic, was participating in the Security Council. Taking advantage of this, Truman and the Security Council were determined to pass Resolution 83, which was for helping the Republic of Korea (the South). Without the Soviet Union–an ally to DPRK– to veto such an action, the UN-authorized armed intervention was made possible. III. Possible Solutions This Historic Security Council committee will take place on the 25th of June, the day the North attacks the South. Possible solutions may include a more internationally involved United Nations force, and possible peace talks with DPRK and its allies. Delegates should also keep in mind the strong support DPRK has from China, and what the committee can do to avoid MacArthur’s mistake of going unprepared against the Chinese forces. In addition to this fact, delegates should focus on how to give the UN forces an early victory against the KPA, so they are not driven to the edge of the peninsula. Before giving DPRK his approval to attack the South, Josef Stalin clearly stated that the Soviet army would not come in contact with the American army, due to the Cold War that was going on during that time. Delegates should keep this reluctance towards direct armed conflict in mind.

IV. Bloc Positions China, the Soviet Union, and North Korea - on the side of spreading influences of communism The United States of America/many other democratic nations – mostly on the side of containment, with few countries that are neutral

V. Guiding Questions 1. What is your nation’s policy towards the spread of communism influences? 2. How can this HSC meeting be most effectively used to stop the damage North Korean forces are inflicting on the South’s infrastructure and citizens’ lives? 3. How can MacArthur gain an early victory over the North, without the North pushing American forces to the peninsula? 4. Is there any way to successfully defend against a Chinese army, if the UN force goes above the 38th parallel?

VI. Works Cited "Korean War." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013. "Korean War Project." Korean War Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013. "Korean War Fast Facts." CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 10 Sept. 2013. "Korean War." Korean War. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2013. Bailey, Thomas Andrew, David M. Kennedy, and Lizabeth Cohen. The American Pageant. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Print.