How did the U.S. bypass the Soviet Union's veto in the UN Security Council regarding military action in Korea?

The correct answer is rooted in the historical context of the Korean War and the operations of the United Nations Security Council during that period. In 1950, when North Korea invaded South Korea, the United States sought to respond quickly to this aggression through military means. However, the Soviet Union, as a permanent member of the Security Council, had the power to veto any such military action.

At that particular time, the Soviet Union was boycotting the United Nations Security Council in protest of the UN's refusal to seat the People's Republic of China, which left the council without Soviet representation. This absence meant that the U.S. could propose measures regarding military action in Korea without facing a veto from the Soviet Union. As a result, the Security Council passed a resolution calling for member states to assist South Korea against the North Korean invasion, leading to the formation of a United Nations military force led by the United States.

This situation illustrates how geopolitical factors and the internal politics of the United Nations allowed the U.S. to take action in Korea even in the face of potential opposition from the Soviet Union.