2. The Korean War and Its Consequences

How was the Korean War going in September 1950?

The UN was winning. UN forces, led by the American General Douglas MacArthur, landed in Inchon and quickly pushed the North Koreans back over the 38th parallel and by October 1950 they had almost rolled back the communists to the Yalu River on the border with China.

What changed in the War in October 1950?

The tides changed for the US, as China, not wanting a US-backed state on his border, they invaded Korea and drove the UN forces back below the 38th parallel

Why did General MacArthur get sacked in October 1950?

General MacArthur called for the use of atomic weapons to defend Korea but this was denied by President Truman and MacArthur was sacked.

What happened in June 1951?

more UN troops were deployed to Korea and the communists were eventually driven back to the 38th parallel. The war became a stalemate.

What happened in November 1952?

Republican, General Dwight D Eisenhower won the US presidential election, promising he would go to Korea to see how the war could be ended

What happened in July 1953?

An armistice was signed at Panmunjom on the 38th parallel, which left Korea divided as it had been in 1950, and still is today

What were the consequences of the Korean War for the UNO?

• There was substantial damage to both property and life. Approximately 4 million Koreans died as a result of the war, and countless others were made homeless and destitute.

• UNO action over Korean showed that it was more purposeful than the League of Nations had ever been.

• The League of Nations had never organised military intervention.

• Military action in Korea was made possible since a large number of American troops had been stationed in nearby Japan since 1945.

• The UNO failed to achieve its objective of a “unified, independent and democratic” government for Korea.

• Military sanctions had been used to reverse an act of aggression supported by two major powers (Soviet Russia and communist China).

• The UNO operation was scarred by major misjudgements (for example when MacArthur assured President Truman that the Chinese would not intervene in the war just before the UNO forces crossed the 38 th Parallel in October 1950).

• UNO action in Korea was possible because America refused to admit communist China to the UNO, and between January and August 1950 the Soviets were boycotting the Security Council in response to this decision.

• It can be argued that the USA used the UNO to reinforce its foreign policy over the Korean issue. The USA was determined to end the aggression of North Korea in June 1950 due to its policy of containment. The Security Council resolutions and the UNO flag gave the enterprise the appearance of an international coalition against aggression. However, the Soviets claimed that the UNO was being used as a capitalist tool against communist aggression.

What were the other consequences of the Korean War on East West relations?

• The USA now committed itself to supporting other countries in Asia that were trying to resist communism. It also strengthened its land forces in Europe and encouraged Greece and Turkey to join NATO. The USA’s defence budget tripled after the Korean War.

• In September 1954, the USA, Britain, France, New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan joined together in the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO). The purpose of this new organisation was to stop the spread of communism into southeast Asia.

• The Soviet Union was worried by the USA strengthening its armed forces and took steps to increase the size of its own armed forces. In 1950, there were 2.8 million soldiers in the Red Army. By 1955, the number had risen to almost 5.6 million.

• When West Germany joined NATO in 1955, the Soviet Union responded by bringing together eight communist countries in the Warsaw Pact. This organisation expected the member states to come to the defence of any member attacked by an outside force.

• The desire to have a stronger military force also led to a nuclear arms race as both the USA and the Soviet Union tried to gain military supremacy over their rival.