Korean War

Korean War

• Korea became protectorate of Japan in 1910 post-Russo-Japanese War (1905)

• Allied Victory in 1945 ended 35-year colonial rule of Korea

• In a proposal opposed by almost all Koreans, US and USSR occupy Korea as a trusteeship demarcated along the 38th parallel

  • To establish Korean provisional government to “become free and independent in due course”

• Two states (North and South) formed because of support from different countries

  • Although elections were schedules

Who led the South Korean government?

Syngman Rhee

Who led North Korean government?

Kim Il-sung

Communist North Korea

• USSR established Communist North Korean government

• Rhee and Kim both wanted to unify Korea under their own government ideology

• North Korea gained support from USSR and China since both countries were fighting over NK

Timeline

• North: communist, USSR supplies weapons

• South: capitalist, supported by US

• Both US and USSR troops withdraw from Korea in 1949

June 25, 1950

• NK armies cross 38th parallel with Soviet approval

• SK didn’t expect attack

• US didn’t give enough weapons to SK because they didn’t want SK to to start a war against NK so NK was able to invade easily

• Seoul is captured by June 27

South Korea asks UN for help

• UN feared communism would spread to other countries like Japan if it spread to Korea

  • Truman didn’t want to repeat mistake of appeasement

• USSR boycotts Security Council so Truman gets UN approval to use force to repel invasion 

  • Idea of containment by principle of NSC-68

  • Secretary of State Dean Acheson helps craft UN response

UN sends troops (mostly US) commanded by Douglas MacArthur

• By end of July, only Busan was in control of UN forces

• Orders amphibious invasion of Inchon

• Take Seoul and cut off supply lines

• N Korean pushed back into NK territory

China intervenes

• Truman and MacArthur meet at Wake Island in the Pacific Ocean

• Speculated that Chinese wouldn’t intervene

• Chinese cross Yalu river and enter war on Oct. 19th, pushing UN troops into SK

MacArthur vs. Truman

• MacArthur: believes it’s a new war and they should attack China with nuclear weapons

• Truman: trying to prevent a world war

Truman fires MacArthur

• Insubordination - MacArthur openly criticizes Truman

• President is Commander in Chief of Armed Forces according to Constitution

Armistice (July 1953 - Nov. 1954)

President-elect Eisenhower goes to Korea and uses influence to bring about armistice

Results

• SK remained “free” - no democracy until 1987

• Containment had worked

• Korea badly damaged and many dead

• Still two separate states today and US troops stationed there

Aftermath

• Korea War was first conflict where US had integrated/desegregated units

• 100k+ African-Americans

• Proxy war where nuclear superpowers indirectly conducted their rivalry through third-party countries

DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) is the most heavily militarized border in the world

NK Capital

Pyongyang

SK Capital

Seoul

Which two countries border NK?

USSR, China

Which country is to the south of SK?

Japan

Which bodies of water surround North and SK?

Yellow Sea, Sea of Japan

Where in Korea did this division take place and who occupied each of the sections?

It took place at the 38th parallel, and the USSR occupied the north while the US occupied the south.

Why was President Truman concerned about Russia’s involvement with Korea?

Truman didn’t want communist ideologies to spread, because if it had spread to Korea it could also spread to Japan and other countries (“containment”).

When did North Korea invade South Korea?

June 25, 1950

Stalemate

Nothing happens throughout the whole war because neither side progresses.

How many American soldiers lost their lives in the Korean War?

30,000

How many civilians lost their lives?

1,280,000

What is the DMZ?

The DMZ is the demilitarized zone, which is the most heavily militarized border in the world.