CIE IGCSE History - The Korean war

What was the cause of the Korean war?

North-South communist-anti-communist rivalry

North Korea pre-Korean War

-communist controlled

-leader is Kim Il-Sung, who was soviet-trained

-soviet-style one party system

-hostile to South Korea

South Korea Pre-Korean War

-anti-communist

-democratic governement

-leader was Syngman Rhee who was friendly to the US

-hostile to North Korea

How did the USA react to the outbreak of the Korean War?

• Truman found the Korean war to be an example of how communism would spread if the USA was uninvolved. As a result, Truman's attitude was that the US would do almost anything to stop the spread. Therefore, they sent supplies, warships and advisers to the south Koreans. However, he knew that it would look better if the USA had support of other countries, or in fact the UN intervened instead of the US.

How did UN resolution 84 come about?

• Truman pressured the security council to condemn the actions of the North Koreans, and as it contributed a lot of money it had a lot of influence. The USSR was boycotting the UN (as communist China was not allowed to join), therefore they could not use their veto. Therefore, Truman could claim that this was a UN-sponsored action.

What was UN Resolution 84?

The UN committed itself to using member's armies to drive out the North Korean troops. 18 states provided some support, mostly allies of the USA (incl. Britain). The USA was the greatest example.

What is UN resolution 84 a clear example of?

• This is a clear example of the containment policy and the Truman doctrine in action, and is also perhaps an instance of the USA being aggressive (as well as the North Koreans).

What does the cold war context mean for the Korean War?

• Cold war context means this war is more dangerous than every before as both sides are armed with nuclear weapons

Who was General MacArthur?

 IN WW2, he was in charge of the war against Japan (pacific), and his strategy allowed the USA to defeat Japanese. After the war, he virtually controlled Japan for 6 years to help the country be built back up. He led the UN forces in Korea.

Why was General MacArthur sacked?

once the NK forces were pushed back beyond the 38th parallel, he and Truman decided to push on, and now it was clear that their new aim was to eradicate communism from the whole of Korea. Then, Chinese forces joined the war and the forces were pushed back. Then, in April, MacArthur was sacked due to difference of belief. He wanted to invade China, continue the war, and perhaps even use nuclear weapons. However, Truman thought that saving SK was enough and ruled out a Chinese attack. Despite this, in March MA ordered instruction and threatened an attack on China, so he was sacked due to his overly aggressive attack on Communism

What were the outcomes of war?

North Korea remained communist controlled with the same leader as it had before. South Korea remained democratic with the same leader. The border between the two countries remained roughly the same. There were mass casualties on either side.

What were the mass casualties?

500,0000 south korean civilians

70,000 south korean soldiers

30,000 american soldiers

4,500 UN soldiers

780,000 north korean and chinese soldiers and civilans

In what ways was the outcome of the Korean war a success for the US and SK?

• achieved original aim - communism did not spread any further than it was

• showed the world that communism would not be able to spread

• showed international anti-communist support (res. 84)

• south korea was still independent and had the same leader and same borders

In what ways was the outcome of the Korean war a failure for the US and SK?

• they had mass casualties

• south korea was devastated and it had many civilians in poverty, and a refugee crisis

• tensions and divides highlighted between american leaders

In what ways was the outcome of the Korean war a success for NK, C, USSR?

• NK was still communist and had same leader and borders

• the USSR demonstrated how influential they were and how they were a threat (cold war context)

• China demonstrated their power and influence in their new world, how they could aid the development of the cold war in Asia, and how quickly they were growing

In what ways was the outcome of the Korean war a failure for NK, C and the USSR?

• mass casualties

• devastated land, poverty

• mission failed - could not spread communism

• looked like there was not much support for communism worldwide due to the anti-communist UN resolution

Political factors for the end of the Korean war

neither side wanted a Nuclear war or world war 3. USA - communism had not spread any further and they had a new president (Eisenhower) who decided they could not achieve full eradication. NK- Kim Il-Sung is ‘happy’ as he was shown he has allies and is strong and the president of the USSR has died, so their government thought it was a good time to end the war.

Military factors for the end of the Korean war

 there had been a stalemate at the original border for two years, there were mass casualties, the US + UN troops were not suited to the harsh conditions in Korea - mountainous, sub-zero

timeline: June 1950

North Korea invade South Korea

timeline: September 1950

UN resolution 84 is created due to the USSR boycotting the UN Security Council as China was not allowed to join. As a result, the UN forces arrive in Korea and advance from a small corner (Pusan) on the south coast, and also at Inchon (risky) just below the 38th parallel. Within weeks the North Koreans were driven back a long way past the 38th parallel. Prior to this, the South Korean forces were trapped in a small corner on the south east coast

timeline - october 1950

General Mao warns that if the UN continued to push China would join the war. This is ignored by the UN. The nature of the war changes and the US is now after a bigger prize, the complete removal of communism from Korea. The UN forces push back all the way past the 38th parallel, all the way up to the Yalu River (close to Chinese border)

timeline: november 1950

200,000 Chinese troops join the war. These troops are conditioned to hate the USA. This was provoked by the UN success. UN forces retreat and are pushed back to the 38th parallel.

timeline: april 1951

General MacArthur is sacked due to his anti-communist aggression. Truman is now content with just saving South Korea but MacArthur wanted the full removal of communism.

timeline: june 1951

Peace talks begin. Fighting reaches stalemate at the 38th parallel

timeline: july 1953

Armistice was signed - Stalin died which reduced the confidence of the communist troops, and Truman was replaced by Eisenhower who wanted an end to the war.