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This medal (pictured below) was authorized by the United Nations General Assembly on Dec. 12, 1950. The Department of Defense authorized it for the United States Armed Forces on Nov. 27, 1951. It is awarded to officers and enlisted men of the armed forces of the United States who participated in the action in Korea between June 27, 1950, and July 27, 1954. This medal is awarded for any period of time spent in combat.

The medal, in bronze alloy, was designed within the United Nations, along the lines of British medals. The obverse shows the emblem of the United Nations--a polar projection map of the world taken from the North Pole, encircled by olive branches. The reverse of the medal has the inscription "For Service in Defense of the Principles of the Charter of the United Nations" set in five centered lines. The outer edge is a raised rim. A bar which is permanently attached to the medal, and through which the ribbon passes, has the word "Korea centered thereon.

The ribbon has seventeen equal alternate stripes of pale blue and white with blue at each edge.