1950 - Korean War

• What were the rising tensions?

  At Potsdam, Korea was split along the 38th parallel

  The north was controlled by communist, south was controlled by an anti-communist
• What was the invasion?

  in 1949 , Kim ll sung (communist leader of the north) asked stalin to help him invade the south.

  In 1950, Stalin agreed to provide weapons and equipment but no troops.

  The USA already hat 7,500 troops in the south.

  In June 1950, North Korean troops invaded South Korea
• What was the role of the United Nations in the korean War?

  In response to the north‘s invasion, the USA called the UN to call for a ceasefire.

  The USSR boycotting the UN and unable to oppose the motion led to the UN voting for the immediate withdrawal of troops.

  The north’s troops remained so the UN sent troops to support Rhee’s government (the south)
• What was the actual war?

  sept - Forces under the command of General Macarthur drove North Korea’s troops back to the 38th parallel

  Oct - chinese troops helped push the americans back (they rook control of Seoul )

  April 1951 - General macarthur was dismissed after calling for the use of nuclear weapons

  June - the war reached a stalemate,

  In July a ceasefire was agreed, thee north and south divided almost at the exact place at the start of the war
• What were the consequences of the Korean War?

  The first proxy war of the Cold War - an indirect fight between USSR and USA

  The USA were willing to go to war to contain communism - but they didn't want conflict with the USSR or nuclear weapons