BACKGROUND TO THE KOREAN CONFLICT

• PARTITION OF KOREA

  • At the end of WWII – both USA and USSR agreed to free Korea from Japan

  • They agreed to divide Korea along the 38th parallel (USSR – North Korea and USA – South Korea)

  • Each will occupy a part of Korea and let it reunite itself through free elections in a few years

  • However, USA & USSR could not agree on how Korea should be ruled after the occupation

  • Neither was willing for Korea to be controlled by the other.

  • In 1947, UN called for free elections to be held in Korea, so as to establish a united Korea
• FORMATION OF 2 KOREAS

  • May 1948: UN organised elections in South Korea

  • 80% of the eligible population took part, but this was boycotted by the Communists

  • Syngman Rhee was elected president of the Republic of Korea (South Korea)

  • USSR did not allow elections in North Korea

  • With Soviet support, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was set up in Sep 1948 with Kim Il Sung as its leader

  • Both USA and USSR withdrew from Korea by 1949, having failed to resolve the issue of Korean reunification
• ATTEMPTS TO UNIFY KOREA

  • From 1949 – 1950, there were frequent border clashes between North and South Korea

  • SK tried to capture Northern territories and NK retaliated. E.g. July 1949, SK warships attacked military installations in North Korea and sank most of NK’s west coast fleet. North Korea retaliated and both sides suffered heavy casualties

  • The military & strategic imbalance between North & South Korea was important

  • The advantage the North Koreans had made them more confident to launch an attack on the South
• Attempts to unify Korea - USA

  • Only provided limited support (economic and military aid) to South Korea

  • Felt that Rhee was too rash and USA did not want to be involved in a war in Korea

  • Thus, South Korean army only had light weapons
• Attempts to unify Korea - USSR


  • Soviet Union provided more economic and military aid to N.K.

  • N.K. army was heavily armed with Soviet tanks and artillery, received

  training from Soviet army specialists

  • BUT Stalin warned that USSR would not be directly involved in Korea as they did not want a war against USA
• EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE KOREAN WAR

  • In April 1950, Kim persuaded Stalin that he could conquer South Korea.

  • Stalin gave his permission (you will find out why later)

  • Supported by his allies USSR and China, Kim was ready to invade the south in 1950

  • 25 June 1950, 90000 NK troops crossed the 38th parallel with 150 tanks as part of a surprise attack against South Korea