What is the UN definition of war?

Answer 1

A declaration of war is a formal declaration issued by a national government indicating that a state of war exists between that nation, and one or more others.

Declarations of war have been acceptable means and diplomatic measures since the Renaissance, when the first formal declarations of war were issued.


In public international law, a declaration of war entails the recognition between countries of a state of hostilities between these countries, and such declaration acted to regulate the conduct between the military engagements between the forces of the respective countries. The primary multilateral treaty governing such declarations is the Hague Conventions.

The League of Nations formed in 1919 in the wake of the First World War, and the General Treaty for the Renunciation of War 1928 signed in Paris, demonstrated that world powers were seriously seeking a means to prevent the carnage of the world war. However, these powers were unable to stop the Second World War and, thus, the United Nations System was put in place after that war in an attempt to prevent international aggression through a declaration of war.

In an effort to force nations to resolve issues without warfare, framers of the United Nations Charter attempted to commit member nations to using warfare only under limited circumstances, especially for defensive purposes only.

The UN paradoxically became a war combatant itself after North Korea invaded South Korea on 15 June 1950. The United Nations Security Council condemned the North Korean action by a 9-0 resolution (with the Soviet Union absent) and called upon its member nations to come to the aid of South Korea. The United States of America and 15 other nations formed a "UN force" to pursue this action. In a press conference on 29 June 1950, U.S. President Truman characterized these hostilities as not being a "war," but a "police action."[1]

The United Nations has issued Security Council Resolutions that declared some wars to be legal actions under international law, most notably Resolution 678, authorizing war with Iraq in 1991.

Check this link out to learn a little more about the UN
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UN

Answer 2

War - be silent when strong countries destroy and conquer the weaker ones. And, when someone like Iran try to possess nukes for their own safety (from the likes of senseless Israel), UN tries to grant sanctons against it.

Answer 3

what Christopher said is correct but you dont need it to be announced, if one state attakcs another that is a declaration no matter what...think of Pearl Harbor, the japanese didnt formally declare it, they just formelly bmbed our asses..so an open attack is a declaration of war