In article ,
Han Kim wrote:

The Soviets (not the Russians to be precise) walked out of the Security
Council thinking that the US would not be able to push through a vote.

As I understand it (and without going back and rereading the UN
charter), there was a difference of opinion about the role of
permanent members of the Security Council. The Soviets at that
time interpreted it as meaning that action required the positive
votes of all five permanent members, and therefore that by walking
out they were disabling the SC. The US maintained that action
required no negative votes of the permanent members, and whatever
the charter actually says this interpretation was accepted.
(Corrections by people who know more than I do about this willingly
accepted.)

While many historians had thought that the Soviets were reluctant
supporters duped by a unruly client, the declassified archives show
otherwise. The Soviets were doing their share of instigating and
were quite active in supporting the North Korean plans
to start a conventional attack on the South. The Korean War was
certainly not started behind Stalin's back.

I believe that the poster meant that the UN intervention was
started behind Stalin's back, and one implication is that Stalin
did not feel bound by it. (Not that Stalin would have necessarily
followed a UN resolution if he didn't agree with it.)

There is the possibility that the US could have intervened on
behalf of South Korea, without direct UN auspices. Again without
looking it up, I believe the UN charter allows the use of military
force in defense, and not only defense of one's own country.


--
David H. Thornley | If you want my opinion, ask.
| If you don't, flee.
http://www.thornley.net/~thornley/david/ | O-