Military Involvement

when did NK invade SK

25 June 1950

what happened on the 25 June 1950

NK invaded SK

when the conflict broke the UN was quick to…

send troops under the UN banner to the aid of SK

who sent troops to SK

Britain, Canada, Turkey, the Phillipines & the USA

who led the UN troops

General Douglas MacArthur

when was Phase 1 of the Korean War

June - September 1950

what was Phase 1 of the Korean War

offensive

In June 1950 NK forced advanced into SK & reached a perimeter close to…

Pusan

what happened by September 1950

SK troops had been pushed back to Pusan & it looked unlikely they could hold out

what did Chinese troops do in Phase 1 of the Korean War

Chinese troops were massed in Manchuria in readiness for a move into Korea

In Phase 1, through the UN….states committed to military/economic/medical aid

29

In Phase 1, through the UN 29 states committed to … aid

military/economic/medical

when was Phase 2 of the Korean War

September - November 1950

what was Phase 2 of the Korean War

counter-offensive

In Phase 2, the UN launched Operation….

Chromite

what was Operation Chromite

261 UN ships landed in Korea

what did MacArthur succeed in doing in Phase 2 of the Korean War

in forcing NK forced back across the 38th parallel

why was MacArthur able to force NK forced back across the 38th parallel in Phase 2

Stalin refused to sent troops to NK, only supplies

what happened in October 1950

Mao sent 300,000 Chinese ‘volunteer’ troops across the Yalu River in NK

what did Mao’s involvement in the Korean War in October 1950 lead to

a major counter attack against the UN forces & gave Truman the confidence to advance further into NK

when was Phase 3 of the Korean War

December 1950 - June 1951

what was Phase 3 of the Korean War

stabilisation & negotiation

what happened in January 1951

200,000 Chinese forces had pushed across the 38th parallel & captured Seoul - UN retreated to 38th parallel

what happened in February 1951

UN condemned China as a aggressor

what happened in April 1951

MacArthur dismissed by Truman due to his demands that US forces push into NK & engage the Chinese by using nuclear weapons & airstrikes against them

why did Truman dismiss MacArthur

MacArthur wanted to commit the USA to a struggle for the reunification of Korea but Truman feared an extension of the war & bringing the USSR into it

what happened in June 1951

the USA was indicating to China & the USSR of its willingness to negotiate a ceasefire

when was Phase 4 of the Korean War

June 1951 - July 1953

what was Phase 4 of the Korean War

Stalemate & peace

in Phase 4 neither side…

mounted any significant military offensives during this period

in Phase 4 the US continued to…

support at the 38th parallel & send military support to SK in the form of chemical weapons (napalm), airpower, tanks & artillery

by 1951…

there are 400,000 Chinese troops in Korea & communist troops had reached Seoul

who replaces MacArthur & what does he try to do in Phase 4

General Mathew Rigeway replaced MacArthur & tried to break the stalemate by heavily bombing NK

what did the lack of UN action convince Stalin & Mao of in Phase 4

that there was a genuine desire for a peace settlement

what had the US done by Phase 4

consolidated their relationship in Japan & felt more secure in its involvement with East Asia

what happens July 1951

both sides begin peace talks at a teahouse in Kaesong but fighting continues & peace talks broke down

why is Phase 4 so long

A natural disinclination to cooperate with each other & very protracted negotiations on post-war prisoner release arrangements led to long delays in reaching the final settlement.

what happens in March 1953

Stalin dies

what is the impact of Stalin’s death

peace talks become more likely

what happens on 27 July 1953

an armistice was agreed (China, NK & the US signed a ceasefire agreement. SK refuses to sign but is ultimately forced to accept)

In total, the USA provided … soldiers 33,000 of which were killed in Korea.

6 million

In total, the USA provided 6 million soldiers … of which were killed in Korea.

33,000