Chapter 6: The Korean War 1950-53

• Korea after WW2:

  After WW2 Korea was ‘temporarily’ split at the 38th parallel after revolting against Japanese occupation

  Soviet forces were to occupy the North, and US forces in the South
• Kim Il Sung:

  The North Korean leader- wanted to unite Korea under communism

  Would not settle for coalition w/ non-communist powers

  Backed by the USSR
• Syngman Rhee:

  South Korean leader- a strong nationalist, not capitalist- wanted a united Korea under capitalism

  Authoritarian and strongly disliked communism

  Backed by the US
• Phase 1: June-Sept 1950 (offensive)

  North Korea advanced into the South- reached the perimeter near Pusan

  Chinese troops were readied to move into Korea

  Through the UN, 29 states gave economic, military, and medical aid to the South
• Phase 2: Sept-Nov 1950 (counter-offensive)

  MacArthur landed at Inchon and forced North Korean forces back across the 38th parallel

  October, Mao sent 300,000 troops across the Yalu river into the North

  This meant the UN forces faced a massive counter-attack
• Phase 3: Dec 1950-June 1951 (negociation)

  By January, Chinese forces had pushed across the 38th parallel and captures Seoul

  February, the UN condemned China as an aggressor

  In April, MacArthur was dismissed after his demands of US use of nuclear weapons in Korea- committing the US to Korean unification

  Truman feared extending the war and was willing to negotiate with China and the USSR
• Phase 4: June-July 1951 (stalemate and peace)

  Neither side made significant military offensive- lack of UN action convinced Mao/Stalin of the western desire for peace

  The US had consolidated its relationship with Japan and had secured its involvement in the far East

  However, the disinclination to cooperate with eachother meant there was a long delay in the final settlement
• Settlement: July 1953

  An armistice was agreed in Panmunjom

  There was to be a demarcation line with a demilitarised zone of 2km either side- the 38th parallel

  All military forces to withdraw to their territories

  Repatriation of prisoners to begin
• Chinese impact of the Korean War:

  • US commitment threatened Chinese security, making US-Sino relations very hostile till the 1970s
  • China's entry in the war also meant they were internationally isolated
• US impact of the Korean War:

  • NSC-68 meant that the US began to encourage nations to resist Soviet political aggression- making containment Globalised
  • The US had also ensured the long-term security of Taiwan, ensuring it remained under nationalist control
  • The US was now massively focused on containment in the far East
• Soviet impact of the Korean war:

  • The war placed a huge economic burden on the USSR, leading Stalin to increase industrialisation and meant there was a massive reduction in the availability of consumer goods