IB HL History: The Korean War

causes; international responses; outcome; economic and political impact on the Korea peninsula

Korean War

was a proxy war of the cold war when the USA took advantage of the soviet boycott of the United Nations and implement a UN police action, it intervend directly in the War between North Korea and south Korean Government

1940s: Cold War was focused on Europe and the New German Nations

1950s: cold war focus moved to Asia

1910s: Japan Annexed Korea

—> all through both world wars

Potsdam Conference

a meeting of the Allied leaders in (____), Germany from July 17–August 2, 1945. It was the final meeting of the "Big Three" during World War II. 

Purpose: 

• To plan the postwar peace

• To determine the borders of post-war Europe

• To deal with other outstanding problems

Participants: 

• Harry Truman: The US President who replaced Franklin D. Roosevelt

• Clement Attlee: The British Prime Minister who replaced Winston Churchill

• Joseph Stalin: The Soviet leader who was present at all the Allied conferences

Key issues: 

• How to handle Germany

• The fate of Poland

• The final destruction of Japanese military power

• German reparations

• The economic rehabilitation of Germany

• Poland's postwar borders

• The composition of Poland's government

Interest in Korea

• Since the 19th Century, the soviets had their eye on Korea because of its resources and minerals.

• Roosevelt wanted trusteeship in Korea, where the nation could develop under US Supervision for the next 40 years

Truman Doctorine

a foreign policy in 1947 to support anti-communist governments. The policy was intended to stop the spread of communism during the Cold War. 

• Sent troops to occupy the South of Korea up until the 38th Parallel

• Gave the Koreans some Autonomy

Kennan Long Telegram (1946)

n 1946, while he was Chargé d'Affaires in Moscow, Kennan sent an 8,000-word telegram to the Department—the now-famous “long telegram”—on the aggressive nature of Stalin's foreign policy. Kennan, writing as “Mr. X,” published an outline of his philosophy in the prestigious journal Foreign Affairs in 1947.

red scare

was the political repression and persecution of left-wing individuals and a campaign spreading fear of communist and Soviet influence on American institutions and of Soviet espionage in the United States during the late 1940s through the 1950s.

domino theory

The "domino theory" was a Cold War geopolitical theory that stated if one country in a region fell to communism, then neighboring countries would subsequently fall to communism as well, like dominoes falling in a line, justifying US intervention to prevent such a chain reaction from occurring; it was particularly used to rationalize US involvement in the Vietnam War. 

North Korean People’s Committe February 1946

• The committee was formed after the Soviet Union took control of the north of Korea following World War II. 

• The committee was based on a network of people's committees that were formed across Korea. 

• The committee adopted the political structure of the Soviet Union. 

distributed land and food

Kim Il-Sung

emerged as a key communist leader who sought to expel foreing influence in the nation —> was actially nationalist —> backed by Stalin

Syngman Rhee in Power

a dictator who refused to work w/ national assembly. The US in the south was suspicious of the people’s committee, put this US educated dictator in power

Truman Proposed elections (August 1947)

Truman proposed an election but this was rejected by soviets —> ussr wanted pro soviet gov

—> NK: 8 million Population

—> SK: 20 million population

February 1948; UN Elections in the South

In February 1948, the United Nations conducted elections in South Korea, aimed at establishing a democratic government in the region. This initiative was part of the UN’s efforts to facilitate self-determination in post-war Korea. The elections were meant to choose representatives for a national assembly while underscoring the divide between the Soviet-backed North and the Western-aligned South. ==> Sygman Rhe made president fo the Republic of kOREA

North Korea held elections Sep 1948

NK followed suit and made Kim IL sung the President of the Democratice People’s Republic of Korea

"United States Objectives and Programs for National Security," (NSC 68)

drafted by the National Security Council in April 1950, which outlined a strategy for the United States to significantly increase military spending and preparedness in response to the perceived threat of global communist expansion during the Cold War; essentially calling for a massive military buildup to counter the Soviet Union. 

Key points about NSC-68:

• Context:

  It was created in the early stages of the Cold War, shortly after the Chinese Communist revolution and the start of the Korean War, which heightened anxieties about Soviet aggression.

• Main argument:

  The document argued that the Soviet Union posed an existential threat to the United States and its allies, requiring a substantial military response to contain communist expansion.

• Impact:

  NSC-68 significantly influenced U.S. foreign policy, leading to a major arms race with the Soviet Union and a substantial increase in military spending throughout the Cold War. 

Rhee’s Violent Dictatorship

• us feared his openly

• aggressive attitude to North Korea

• USA offere 150 million for economic assitance and education purposes to stablize the country but refused to proved Rhee with armaments

Parameters Speech

Parameters Speech

cheson's speech at the National Press Club on 12 January 1950 was among the most important and controversial US policy statements in the early history of the Cold War in East Asia. In it, he defined the American "defensive perimeter" in the Pacific as a line running through Japan, the Ryukyus, and the Philippines.

• Did not mention South Korea

North Invades South 25th June 1950

The start of the Korean War when North Korean forces crossed the 38th parallel, launching a surprise attack on South Korea.

• by the 27th most of the South was controlled including Seoul

US and UN Response to Invasion

.Following North Korea's invasion, the US and UN swiftly condemned the attack, leading to a military response to assist South Korea. This included the deployment of American troops and the formation of a UN coalition to repel the invasion. The US led a military intervention under UN auspices, marking a significant escalation in the Cold War.

r 1,789,000 U.S. military personnel served in the Korean theater of operations. The U.S. suffered 137,250 casualties including 36,940 killed in action, 92,134 wounded in action, and 3,737 missing in action.

Incheon Invasion (15 September 1950)

A pivotal amphibious operation conducted by UN forces on , aimed at recapturing Seoul and turning the tide of the Korean War. Pusshed DPRK back begin the 38th Parallel and close to the Yalu River

Chinese Volunteer Soldiers (Oct 1950)

Chinese troops who entered the Korean War to support North Korea against UN and South Korean forces. Their involvement marked a significant escalation of the conflict and contributed to the eventual stalemate along the 38th parallel.

• stalin got a letter from Kim asking for assitance and got Mao to send troops

Communist Volunteer Army Crops (Oct 1950)

The Chinese military forces deployed to assist North Korea during the Korean War, significantly impacting the conflict's dynamics and contributing to the stalemate along the 38th parallel.

• 500000 soldiers mobilized

• had numerical superiority

Ceasefire (1951)

An agreement to stop fighting during the Korean War, leading to the establishment of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and a lasting armistice, though no formal peace treaty was signed.

Reparations of POWs

while USA and UN forces argued for voluntary returns the chinese agreed if only the majority of NK and chinese forces would be returned voluntarly

—> costly stalemate

USSR Neutrality

officially declared neutral but was not willing to accept communist defeat —> complicated peace talks

Stalins Death in March 1953

was critical for thr end of the Korean war as the new leadership did not see Korea as in their Interests

Dwight D Eisenhower

was elected to w/draw trrops

Ceasefire Agreements (July 27 1953)

US, UN NK+ chinese signed a ceasfire and agreed to division of Korea near pre-war borders

• Sk did not sign though

Impact of South Korea

• left the pensula evided and NK remained impovershed under Juche ideology while south experienced politcal stability and economic success

Juche Idelogy

incorporates the historical materialist ideas of Marxism–Leninism but also strongly emphasizes the individual, the nation state, and national sovereignty. Juche posits that a country will prosper once it has become self-reliant by achieving political, economic, and military independence.