CWiA Unit 2

• Kim Il Sung


  Aimed for a unified Korea with himself as leader, favoured pro-Soviet and Pro-Chinese, yet independent Korea under communism
• Syngman Rhee


  Also aimed for a unified Korea with himself as leader, he favoured a pro-American yet independent country with a capitalist economy
• Causes of Korean War

  • US incompetence - policy of containment, Truman doctrine, US planning on establishment of South Korean gov and economy through financial aid, Red Scare, Joseph McCarthy
  • Civil war - both Rhee and Kim Il Sung wanted a unified Korea under differing ideologies and leadership, border clashes between North and South initiated by South, North first to attack in 1950
  • USSR - Kim needed Stalin's approval for invasion of South Korea which was granted, provided tanks and military fighters but no soldiers or navy
  • Chinese intervention - Mao promised aid after Civil War, China worried about resurgence of Japanese power
• Phase 1 June-September 1950


  US/UN/ROK forces forced to retreat June-July 1950, conditions worsened in August, US + ROK troops were pinned behind Pusan perimeter by late August, MacArthur advocated a landing 200 miles behind NK lines at Inchon, NK's were surprised, Inchon was taken back by SK + US and US/ROK forces worked out of Pusan perimeter, MacArthur retook Seoul and handed over Capital to Rhee on 27th Sept 1950
• Phase 2 'Rollback' of Communism Sept-Oct 1950


  US/UN/ROK aimed to destroy NK forces and reunify Korean peninsula but aims changed as Rhee + MacArthur were keen to reunify Korea and it was a show of US against Communism, After Inchon and retaking of Seoul, military momentum and optimism made most Americans consider stopping at 38th parallel ridiculous, Some US allies were enthusiastic about changes to aims, Britain and Kennan also thought US should get out of Korea, MacArthurs orders aren't willing to clear China gets involved as China warned the US if they crossed the 38th Parallel, China would respond
• Phase 3. Chinese involvement Oct 1950-Feb 1951

  When US/UN/ROK troops reached Yalu river, China sent 150,000 men into NK, 1st Nov Americans found themselves surrounded by Chinese, MacArthur persuaded Truman to allow him to bomb Yalu bridges, US/ROK very outnumbered: 300,000 Chinese, 100,000 NK vs 270,000 US/UN/ROK forces, NK winter sometimes -30°C and motor oil and weapons frequently froze, 25,000 US Surrounded by 120,000 Chinese near Chosin, of 25,000 Americans that fought in Chosin, 6,000 were wounded, killed or captured and 6,000 suffered from severe frostbite
• Chinese Intervention + US retreat

  Problems for Truman - Poll ratings were falling, suffered losses in Nov 1950 election, JCS feared a soviet attack on Europe, Truman declared a State of National emergency, General MacArthur was publicly critical of Truman's policies
• Why did Truman dismiss MacArthur?

  MacArthur violated JCS directive 6th Dec 1950, Truman relieved MacArthur April 1951, Truman committed to limited war in Korea, Entry and impact of Matt Ridgway as Army's Deputy Chief of Staff, Ridgeway was likeable and got troops on side and understood UN/US/ROK weaknesses, MacArthur tried to take credit for operation killer, MacArthur issued an unauthorised Statement on the need for USA to defend Taiwan
• Phase 4 Stalemate Jan 1951 - July 1953


  Spring offensive: attack planned by China along Imjin river 30 miles from Seoul began April 22nd 1951 led to a great loss of life -85,000 casualties, 22,000 US killed, 23rd April troops Struggling, SK's couldn't keep up limited Us+UN forces, Along river there were 4000 British troops compared to 27,000 Chinese, peace talks 1951-1953 further prolonged the war, two soldiers died every minute, Seoul had changed hands 5 times
• USSR Sent no troops or navy to aid war, only sent fighter planes and war materials and advisors
• General Matt Clark wanted to use atomic weapons but US gov rejected it
• Impacts of the war - Positives

  • USA fulfilled containment, Strengthened NATO
  • USSR seen as a triumph
  • Strengthened Sino-Soviet alliance
  • Strengthened relations between North Korea and China
  • Consolidated strength of Mao's government
  • Military performance of China impressive
  • Increased US interest and aid in other areas of Asia
  • Some countries claimed neutrality
• Impacts of the war - Negatives

  • 30,000 US died in Korea
  • Cost $67 billion
  • Led to remilitarisation of Japan and Germany
  • Around 1 million casualties
  • Very bad relations between China and USA
  • Western opposition of China in UN
  • 400,000 North Korean military casualties
  • 600,000 North Korean civilian casualties
  • 250,000 South Korean military casualties
  • 1 million South Korean civilian casualties
  • Some countries criticised actions of US and North Korea
• SEATO


  Southeast Asian Treaty Organisation - Alliance between USA, Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand in 1954, agreed to protect South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos