The United Nations Command in Korea: past, present, and future

Abstract

Abstract Established immediately following the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, the United Nations Command (UNC) in Korea has maintained its presence on the Korean peninsula for the past 50 years while executing several duties and roles. In evaluating those tasks carried out by the UNC, one can identify four key functions: (1) repelling armed attack from North Korea; (2) supervising the implementation of and rectifying any violations of the armistice; (3) retaining and utilizing the UN Command rear bases in Japan; and (4) regulating and supporting the troops dispatched by UN members in response to emergencies. With the exception of the second function, the UNC was largely successful in performing its mission. Nevertheless, the recent possibility of the dissolution of the ROK–U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC), along with the emergence of a peace regime on the Korean peninsula, has sparked debate on the necessity of revisiting the UNC amidst such change. On a basic level, since the UNC has significantly...