HIST Korean War {INCOMPLETE}

Thought this was not being test, SIKE it's an essay wuestion topic

Define proxy war

A military conflict in which one or more third parties directly or indirectly support one or more state or non-state combatants.

This is to influence the outcome of the conflict so as to advance thier own strategic interests and to undermine those of an opponent’s.

Exact date of the potsdam conference and it’s outcomes?

August 1945. The allies divided korea into two occupational zones at 38th parallel until a provisional governement was formed.

Significance: 38th parallel was not intended as a permanent boundary, but 2 nations (one communist and one not) developed.

Who was the leader of North Korea, and what was his ideology?

Kim Il sung — USSR trained communist, wanted a command economy, sought advice and support from the PRC and USSR for attack on south (desired independent Korea)

Who was the leader of south vietnam, and his ideologies?

Syngman Rhee — american educated anti-communist, capitalist economy and democracy, seeking american support for attack on north

became president of Republic of korea in August 1948

What was the atmosphere between NK and SK?

actions taken by kim and rhee?

Hostile — Kim made unsuccessful attempts to persuade stalin to support attempts to reunify Korea under his rule.

Rhee also desired truman’s aid, large supplies of weapons were refused by US (attacking NK)

Rhee initiated border clashes to capture territories in the south.

What was the significance of the attack on July 1949?

SK warships attacked NK military installations near Taedong river, sinking most of the Nk’s west coast fleet. From then onwards, fights broke out along the 38th parallel in 1950, resulting in casualties.

What was the superpower’s initial stance to get involved in the conflict.

Stalin — priority was to create buffer zones in EE to prevent invasion, and did not want to further strain on resources OR direct military confrontation.

Truman — Decided Korea lay beyond defense parameter, instead prioritising the philippines and japan (see secretary of state acheson’s speech)

When did US and USSR troops exit korea, and what does this say about superpower aims?

Both exited by 1949, showing neither had any interest in getting involved. (what changed)

What were the two significant tensions that contributed to a change in the superpower’s ideology?

1. expansion of communism in asia

2. August 1949 USSR atomic bomb — meant that American monopoly over nuclear arms race was broken, which could make it easier for stalin to support Kim.

How did communism spread in asia?