The Korean War

• When was the Korean War?

  1950-1953
• What happened during the Korean War?

  Conflict between North Korea (supported by China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (supported by the United States and United Nations).

  (After WW2 korea had been divided into two during the Yalta Conference)

  
  

  Kim Il-sung was determined to spread communism to South Korea.
• What were the events of the Korean War?

  North Korean invasion, United Nations intervention, Chinese intervention, armistice agreement.
• South Korea- lead by Syngman Rhee (American-backed, anti-communism)

  North Korea- lead by Kim Il Sung (a Soviet-trained politician)
• What was the significance for superpower relations?

  Showed the power the USA has with the UN

  Neither the USA or USSR would want to risk a direct or military struggle with their rival superpower- but they could technically fight each other through other countries' wars

  The Korean War also showed that the USA was willing to go to war to contain communism, and it was the first proxy war of the Cold War.
• Who were the NKPA?

  communist party of Kim Il Sung- The North Korean People's Army
• Who were the ROKs?

  the Republic of Korea's army, lead by Syngman Rhee
• The War- 1:

  • March 1949 - Kim Sung asked the USSR to help invade the South, but Stalin didn't want to directly engage the 7500 US troops who were present in South Korea
  • 1950 - Stalin agreed to provide weapons and equipment to North
  • June : after getting the support of Russia and China, Kim Il Sung invaded South Korea. The NKPA easily defeated the ROKs --> September: NKPA had conquered almost all of South Korea.
  • July 1950, fearing a communist takeover, as via the domino effect, Japan- an important American trading partner- would fall too so the USA appealed to the UN for help.
• The War- 2:

  • In response to the North's invasion, the USA asked the UN to call for a ceasefire.
  • With the USSR boycotting the UN and therefore unable to oppose the motion, the UN called for the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops. However the North's troops remained so the UN sent troops to support Rhee
  • September 1950- UN troops under the command of General MacArthur drove the NKPA back to the 38th Parallel.
  • October- not wanting a US-backed state on its border, China invaded Korea and drove the UN forces back. They took control of the South Korean capital, Seoul.
• The War- 3:

  • April 1951: General MacArthur called for the use of atomic weapons to defend Korea but this was denied by Truman, and MacArthur was dismissed.
  • July 1951: more UN troops were deployed to Korea and the communists were driven back to the 38th parallel, and the war became a stalemate.
  • July 1953: An armistice was signed, leading Korea divided (as it still is today)
• What is an armistice?

  a formal agreement to stop fighting
• The USSR played a covert role during the war, as to not worsen tensions with the USa
• What were the consequences of the Korean War?

  -the USA was willing to go to War to contain communism, and the power the USA had in the UN

  -was the first proxy War of the Cold War

  -the dismissal of MacArthur showed the USA didn't want direct conflict with the USSR/ wouldn't involve Nuclear weapons

  -the USSR was equally keen to avoid direct conflict with the USA