Pacific Islands

Former (1947-1990) United Nations (UN) trust territory in the western Pacific captured from Japan during World War II. The territory comprised over 2,000 islands and atolls and was assigned to the USA in 1947. The islands were divided into four governmental units: the Northern Mariana Islands (except Guam) which became a self-governing commonwealth in union with the USA in 1975 (inhabitants granted US citizenship 1986); the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau (formerly also known as Belau) became self-governing 1979-80, signing agreements of free association with the USA in 1986. In December 1990 the UN Security Council voted to dissolve its trusteeship over the islands with the exception of Palau. The Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia were granted UN membership in 1991.