Korean War

• the cold war

  during WW2 the Allies fought against the Nazis. The main allies were the USA, Britain, France and the USSR. In Europe the War officially ended May 6th 1945. However, it continued in the East until the Nazi’s allies, Japan, were forced into an unconditional surrender after the USA dropped two atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August.
• capitalism

  • lots of political parties to choose from
  • freedom of speech
  • people can start their OWN businesses and earn their OWN profit
  • freedom and opportunity for all
• communism

  • one political party
  • strict censorship
  • everyone must work for state factories
  • farmers produce for the state and people are given what is required
  • fairness and equality for all
• ideaology

  a system of ideas and ideals, especially concerning economic theory and policy.
• in 1910, japan conquered korea and wanted to build an empire inspired by europes imperialism
• Japan fought on the side of the Nazis, against the USA and Soviet Union in WWII
• how did Korea become divided?

  Korea became divided due to Japanese occupation in the 1910s. When the Japanese surrendered in August of 1945 after being part of the Axis in WWII their land was seized - Korea was therefore temporarily split up between the two different leaders because of their different nationalist views in the hope of election solving the problem. 
• Kim Il sung

  • ruler of North Korea. communist beliefs.
  • wanted to unite korea under a communist view.
  • made a pact with Stalin to launch a military invasion into South Korea.
• Syngman Rhee

  • leader of south korea. capitalist views.
  • fiercly anti-communist, communist uprising was put down harshly.
  • treatment of communists angered kim il sung and increased tension.
• Harry Truman

  • US president. capitalist views.
  • introduced the truman doctrine.
  • truman doctrine was an act of challenge towards communism.
  • believed in the domino theory and would not allow korea to become communist.
• Josef Stalin

  • leader of the USSR. communist views.
  • wanted to spread communism.
  • supported an invasion of south korea and funded the spread of communism.
• Mao Tse-Tung

  • leader of china
  • wanted to assist the communists in North Korea
  • became communist in 1949 which frightened the USA.
• the UN

  • an integovernment orginisation with no ideaology.
  • wanted to keep peace throughout the world
  • manipulated to support the capitalist side of the war by the USA
• what is the UN?

  security council:

  • 5 permanent members (WWii allies)
  • 10 elected membets
  • makes decisions
  • takes action

  secretary general:

  • an individual chosen by the permanent members of the security council.
  • chairs meetings
  • mediates
  • represents UN

  general assembly:

  • all member states
  • 1 country = 1 vote
  • recommends action
• role of the UN causing the war


  the UN vetoed china in 1949. USSR stormed out and boycotted the meetings in protest. the USA and USSR vetoed each others suggestions.
• harry truman causes

  truman doctrine in 1947 to support countries under threat of communism. - trying to contain spread of communism -USSR are angry and increased tension.
• joseph stalin causes

  walked out of UN meeting allowing US to dominate the meetings. UN was in full control of capitalists, making the Korean was an international war.
• Syngman Rhee causes

  insisted that korea should be united under a capitalist government. north korea would not be hapy and would be no peaceful solution was through war
• kim il-sung

  insisted that korea should be united under a communist government. south korea would not be happy. no peaceful compromise only solution was through war.
• the UN, Russia, and US at the start of the war.

  ->kim il-sung wanted korea to be communist - SK were happy

  -> synhman rhee wanted korea to be capitalist - NK would be happy.

  -> truman doctrine (1947) resulted in war because there was a divide and communists were being contained.

  -> jeju rebellion 30,000 communists were killed because of clashes between communism and capitalism in SK.
• -> USSR atomic bomb, 1949-1950 gave weapons and war items to NK.

  -> china becomes communist

  -> US veto of china

  -> USSR walk out of the UN
• korea was divided along the 38th parallel
• stage one:

  initial attacks - 25th June 1950

  • actions - NK army launched attack against SK at the Onjin Peninsula.
  • outcome - Rhee flee Seoul. blew up a bridge leading to the city to delay North, killing 1000s of refugees.
• Stage 2

  Osan - 5th July 1950

  • actions - USA took part in an attack in Osan to prevent NK from getting more territory until US could send more troops.
  • outcome - US lost and NK were able to push them further south. were around 180 casualties, showing how poorly prepared the US was.
• stage 3

  Taejon - 14th-21st July 1950

  • actions - US chose to gather north of the city but were forced to gather in Taejon.
  • outcome - more than 200 Americans were injured, 900 were killed, and 2,400 captured. William Dean (commander) became a PoW until end of war.
• Stage 4

  Pusan Perimeter - August 1950-15th September 1950

  • actions - NK had 4 places to attack from, split their forces to attack easier. had trouble communicating and the attack was slowed down.
  • outcome - battle of inchon. battle lasted over a month. 4600 US soldiers killed, 12,000 US soldiers wounded, 40,000 SK casualties.
• stage 5

  Battle of Inchon - September 1950

  • actions - MacArthur landed 75,000 troops 150km behind NK lines. successfully landed.
  • outcome - recaptured Seoul on the 25th September. restored order in SK, increased morale of troops and civilians. cut off NK supply lines. provided the UN with a strategic air base.
• stage 6

  UN enters North Korea - October 1950

  • actions - South go across 38th parallel and push north to the Yalu river (Chinese border).
  • outcome - Chinese threaten to get involved. end up joining battle with 200,000 troops to help North Korea.
• stage 7

  China advances

  • actions - china advances towards South Korea, pushing southern forces back to Seoul.
  • outcome - 6 month into the war all geographical gain is where it was at the beginning of the war.
• stage 8

  Seoul changes hands - January/March 1951

  • actions - North push beyond 38th parallel and recapture Seoul. by March 1951, SK recapture Seoul.
  • outcome - the two sides were where they started at the 38th parallel.
• stage 9

  MacArthur invades (again) - April 1951

  • actions - Truman and MacArthur had different ideas about how to deal with communism. Truman wanted to contain, MacArthur wanted to destroy. MacArthur wanted to drop a nuclear bomb which Truman refused - tension leads to MacArthur re-invading North Korea without permission at the start of April (failed).
  • outcome - causes a stalemate and leads to MacArthur being sacked on 11th April 1951 by Truman. Causes public scandal as MacArthur was WW2 hero.
• stage 10

  Stalemate - 1951-1953

  • actions - both sides continue bombing and attacking each other causing death and damage on both sides. Russia get involved and send artillery and fighter jets to help NK and China.
  • outcome - the UN lose around 3500 planes while NK, China, USSR lose 3000. peace talks start and countries try to create a treaty. at the end of the war neither side gained anything and land stays the same.
• stalemate (part 1)

  • at the 38th parallel both sides used barbed wire, artillery, and mines to stop the enemy from gaining ground.
  • US bombed NK with napalm and high explosives. killed almost 1M civilians and soldiers.
  • Stalin agreed to send military equipment and ammunition to help Chinese and Korean forces. provided fighter planes.
• stalemate (part 2)

  • all soviet planes were painted with Chinese or NK markings and were banned from speaking Russian on the radio.
  • US offered large rewards to Chinese, NK, or Soviet pilot who defect advanced plane technology to the UN to copy soviet technology.
  • UN lost around 3500 planes while the NK, Chinese, and Soviets lost 3000.
• when did peace talks start? why were they unsuccessful?

  July 1951 - they could never agree with each other and were bombing each other.
• what happened in 1952? why was this significant?

  Truman was replaced by Eisenhower - keen for an end of the war.
• what happened in 1953? why was this significant?

  Stalin died - North Koreans and the Chinese were not confident they could get the same support from anyone else.
• When and where was the peace treaty signed?

  27th July 1953 in Panmunjǒm
• What geographical changes were made as a result of the end of the war?

  both North and South Korea would remain independent but a 3km demilitarised zone was placed.
• explain why as the war developed neither side achieved a decisive advantage.

  the border remained exactly as it was before, on the 38th parallel, meaning neither side achieved anything.