Conflict and Tension in Asia: Korean War

Vocabulary and key concepts regarding the causes, development, and impact of the Korean War based on lecture notes.

$38th$ Parallel

The temporary dividing line established at the end of $WW2$ where Japanese forces surrendered to the $USSR$ in the north and American forces in the south of Korea.

Kim Il-Sung

The leader of North Korea who was a Communist dictator trained by the Soviet army during $WW2$.

Syngman Rhee

The anti-Communist leader of South Korea who had spent much of the war in exile in the $USA$.

Mao Zedong

The leader of the Communist Party who took over China in $1949$ and supported North Korea against $US$ influence.

$$NSC-68$$

A $1950$ policy document that recommended a massive increase in armaments and a new policy to "roll back" Communism.

Domino Theory

The American belief that if one state turned Communist, neighbouring states would fall to Communism one by one.

Pusan pocket

The south-east corner of South Korea, which was the only area not occupied by North Korean forces during their rapid advance in $1950$.

Inchon

The port on the west coast of South Korea where $UN$ troops launched a surprise sea attack on $15$ September $1950$.

Status quo ante bellum

A term referring to the state of affairs existing before the war, restored when the two sides were roughly back at the $38th$ parallel by March $1951$.

$$MiG-15$$

A technologically advanced Soviet jet plane used during the conflict that was more advanced than the planes used by the $USA$.

Napalm

A substance used by the $USA$ alongside high explosives during the stalemate phase of the Korean War.

Chiang Kai-Sek

The leader of the alternative Chinese government supported by the $USA$ after they cut off dealings with Communist China.

$$SEATO$$

The South East Asia Treaty Organisation, founded in $1954$ as a copy of $NATO$ to contain Communism in the Far East.