The history of Korea dates back more than 4,000 years. However,
since the end of World War II, it has been divided into two
States and this division has characterized its recent history.
The Republic of Korea was established in 1948 and its Government
was recognized by the United Nations through General Assembly
resolution 195. The United Nations played a key role in the
birth of the Republic of Korea through such missions as
monitoring the first general election and other reconstruction
programs. When the Korean War broke out in June 1950, the United
Nations intervened, under Security Council resolution 82, by
sending armed forces to repel the Communists' aggression. It was
the first undertaking of its kind in the history of the United
Nations. Now, almost 50 years after the Korean armistice, a UN
command is still present on the Korean Peninsula. Since the
armistice of 1953, the Korean issue had been one of the most
controversial subjects of debate between the Western and pro-
Soviet blocks at the United Nati