Korean War and Cold War Conflicts in Asia

Causes of the Crisis

Long Term Causes

  • Nuclear Fears: The USSR obtained its nuclear bomb in 1949, influencing US containment policy.

    • The US initially felt secure with NATO and its own nuclear power, considering it a cheap and easy way to contain communism.

    • However, the USSR's development of the atomic bomb led to the NATO and US forces no longer being unmatched.

  • Civil War in China: The Communist victory, led by Mao Zedong, over the Nationalist forces of Jiang Jieshi.

    • The US aided the Nationalists, but the Communists ultimately won.

    • The US initial response, outlined in the White Paper by Dean Acheson, presented Mao as an independent leader and suggested that containment should not be applied in China.

      • This paper spurred reactions, with many feeling the US did not do enough to help Jiang Jieshi and that the focus should be in Europe.

      • The US continued to recognize Jiang Jieshi as the genuine government of China.

    • The Soviet-Chinese Treaty demonstrated that Acheson was wrong in thinking that Stalin and Mao were not in good terms.

  • Korean Nationalism: Traced back to 1910 when Japan annexed Korea, playing a role in the division and conflict following World War II.

    • Korea's geopolitical importance contributed to this, but Syngman Rhee was not able to get USA support for the Korean cause.

Short Term Causes

  • The Red Scare in America + McCarthyism:

    • Senator McCarthy alleged a Soviet conspiracy to place Communist sympathizers in key American positions.

    • Related topics include the Hollywood Ten, HUAC, Alger Hiss, The Rosenbergs and their trial, and the McCarran Act.

      • The Rosenbergs were convicted, and the judge causally linked their treason to Communist aggression in Korea, with casualties exceeding 50,000.

      • The McCarran Act (1950) required communist organizations to register with the US Department of Justice and allowed for emergency detentions, which Truman vetoed for infringing on freedom of speech.

  • Acheson's 'Perimeter' Speech: A controversial statement that may have signaled a lack of US commitment to defending Korea.

    • Differing interpretations of the US defensive perimeter strategy existed among the State Department, Chiefs of Staff, and General MacArthur.

  • NSC-68 (TOTAL CONTAINMENT):

    • A document advocating for a significant increase in US defense spending and a more assertive foreign policy to contain communism globally.

    • Shifted US foreign policy towards a more global approach, blurring the lines between national and global security.

  • Division of Korea after WW2:

    • The Cairo Conference in 1943 led to the idea of trusteeship for Korea, with Roosevelt and Jiang Jieshi refusing to recognize the Provisional Government of Korea in exile.

    • The Potsdam Conference in 1945 saw Stalin criticize the idea of trusteeship, but the US and USSR agreed to liberate Korea, dividing it at the 38th parallel.

    • The Moscow Conference in 1945 led to protests against the 4 power trusteeship.

    • The United Nations Temporary Commission in 1947 was barred from entering the northern zone, leading to elections in the south under its supervision, which were not recognized by the USSR and the North.

  • US and USSR Military Withdrawal from Korea: Creating a power vacuum and increasing the likelihood of conflict.

    • Soviet withdrawal involved leaving large supplies of military hardware and equipment, while the US debated its role and eventually withdrew its troops by June 1949 after a UN General Assembly resolution.

Trigger

  • North Korea Invaded South Korea on June 25th, 1950: Marking the start of the crisis.

    • 10 North Korean divisions invaded South Korea after crossing the 38th Parallel.

    • Seoul was quickly seized by North Korean troops.

The Crisis: The Events (June 1950 - September 1950)

  • Timeline: From June 25th to September 15th, 1950.

  • The invasion led to a shift in US domestic and foreign policies.

  • Truman embraced the idea of total commitment, total Containment (as presented in document NSC-68).

  • Presented the DOMINO EFFECT theory.

  • Ignored the ’Perimeter’ speech.

  • The US sent aid to South Korea and called for military intervention against North Korea in the UN Security Council, taking advantage of the USSR's boycott to pass a resolution.

  • American General Douglas MacArthur became the UN commander of the troops.

  • The USSR’s boycott of the UN Security Council allowed the US to proceed without a veto, potentially hoping for a costly war between Chinese and American forces.

Perspectives On The Start Of The War

  • Orthodox/Traditionalists:

  • Revisionists:

  • Post Revisionists:

  • Post Cold War:

Course of the War: 4 Phases

  • Phase 1: Pusan and Inchon, June to September 1950.

  • Phase 2: ‘Rollback’ of communism to the Yalu River, September to October 1950.

  • Phase 3: Chinese involvement and escalation, October 1950-February 1951.

  • Phase 4: The War of attrition, January 1951-July 1953.

Dismissal of MacArthur

  • MacArthur's actions and disagreements with Truman and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC) led to his downfall.

  • Disagreements included the use of nuclear power, bombing China, and the importance of Asia for the Cold War.

  • After MacArthur’s dismissal, General Ridgway became the commander of all UN forces in Korea.

Reaching Peace

  • US: Economic reasons, public opinion, pressure from other countries, damaged reputation, fear of USSR involvement, and General Omar Bradley's focus on Europe.

  • China: Domestic and economic problems, huge human cost (Mao's son died during the war).

  • USSR: Wanted to decrease the risk of a general war.

  • North Korea: Kim Il Sung faced extreme food shortages and was unable to reunite Korea.

Outcome, Impact, and Significance of the Korean War

  • The impact and significance varied for the US, South Korea, North Korea, China, the UN, the USSR, and the Cold War itself.

Human Costs

  • UN: Total amount of soldiers sent: 295,000 (260,000 USA, 35,000 from other countries). 94,000 deaths (some books say 160,000)

  • KOREAS (both): 4,000,000 people mainly civilians

Impact for the USA

  • Increased fear towards the USSR.

  • Tripled budget on military defense.

  • US military presence in Europe was strengthened.

  • NATO was strengthened (Greece and Turkey joined, bases set up in Turkey).

  • Treaty of San Francisco with Japan (1952).

  • Taiwan was protected by the US Seventh Fleet.

  • China became more isolated from the West.

  • USA became committed to interfering in Asian countries where communism could become stronger.

  • SEATO was formed.

Impact for Korea

  • High human cost.

  • Korea remained divided.

  • A peace treaty has never been signed.

  • Both countries were led by dictators.

  • US poured lots of billions of dollars into South Korea to strengthen the military and the economy.

  • South Korea has become an example of a super capitalist country with the help of US investment.

Impact for China

  • China became a great power in Asia.

  • Mao Zedong gained popularity in China for having ‘saved North Korea’.

  • China suffered economically from the war.

  • The aims of “conquering” Taiwan will be unachievable.

  • Mao and Stalin grew apart after Stalin not helping Mao during the Korean war.

Impact for the USSR

  • Negative results for the USSR: The USA had increased their number of troops in Europe, have created the SEATO to fight communism in Asia. Stalin was now in the middle of a much bigger conflict which was escalating.

Impact for South East Asia

  • South East Asia became now part of the “COLD WAR.”

  • Nationalist movements fighting for independence were immediately used by USSR or USA to their own agenda.