North Korea, equipped with Soviet arms and supported by the Soviet Union, crosses the 38th Parallel and invades South Korea on June 25, 1950. The North forces push through initial defenses and capture Seoul, the South Korean capital, in three days. The United Nations Security Council, with the Soviet Union boycotting the proceedings, called for member nations to come to the aid of South Korea with the United States in charge of the military effort and with overall command of all American, Republic of Korea and United Nations forces by U.S. General Douglas MacArthur. The North Korean Army pushed the Republic of Korea and U.S. forces south to the port city of Pusan where they dug in and held the perimeter allowing for a buildup of U.S. and other U.N. forces streaming into the Korean Peninsula including the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade that arrived on August 3rd to reinforce the depleted U.S. Army divisions and South Korean forces holding the perimeter.