The Korean War CIE IGCSE History

• What happened in 1945?

  North Korea liberated by Soviets, South Korea liberated by Americans
• What happened in June 1950?

  North Korean troops invaded the South
• What happened by September 1950?

  North controlled all of Korea except small area in South-East Korea
• Where was the border before and after the war?

  38th parallel
• UN decision in 1947

  Elections should be held in both parts to decide new government for whole country
• How did the US try to contain communism when the North invaded?

  Pressured the UN to condemn North Korea's action and called for them to withdraw their troops.
• Why didn't the USSR veto the UN Resolution 84?


  They were boycotting the UN over the issue of whether communist China could join the UN.
• What is the UN Resolution 84?

  UN committed itself to take military action (using members' armies) to drive North Korean troops out of South Korea
• When and where did UN forces advance?

  September 1950, from Inchon and with the South Koreans from Pusan
• Until where was North Korea pushed back?

  38th parallel and after until the Yalu River
• Why did UN and US troops get pushed back?

  200,000 Chinese troops calling themselves 'People's Volunteers' joined the North Koreans after repeated warnings by Mao
• Why did General McArthur get sacked?

  Because he wanted to launch an attack on China
• Who led the US army in Korea?

  General McArthur
• When and why did peace talks begin?

  June 1951, the fighting reached a stalemate around the 38th parallel
• When was an armistice signed for the Korean War?

  July 1953
• How was containment successful in Korea?

  • Successfully kept South Korea from falling under communist rule

  • Showed USA had the means to contain communism
• How was containment unsuccessful in Korea?

  • North Korea remained communist

  • Highlighted tensions among US leaders

  • Casualties were enormous