1. Conflict in Korea Flashcards
How did Korea Change during WW2?
Japan was in control of Korea but when they lost World War II their Northern troops surrendered to Soviet forces and the Southern troops surrendered to US forces.
The country was divided between north and south but this was meant to be temporary, the UN organised elections to make Korea independent.
Before elections the Soviet allowed Kim Il sung (a Korean Communist) to take control of the north
Syngman Rhee (a capitalist with strong ties to the USA) became leader of the South
What did the North become?
Became People’s Republic of Korea
Pyongyang was its capital
Kim Il Sung was its leader
Communist ideology
What did the South become?
Became Republic of Korea
Seoul was its capital
Syngman Rhee was its leader (US backed)
Capitalist ideology
How was China linked to the USA?
When Japan ruled Korea, China was in the middle of a civil war and ruled by Chiang Kai-shek, he was fighting communism (led by Mao Tse-tung.)
They United to defeat Japan during WW2.
When they were retreated to the unity was lost in the Civil War started again
The USA supported Chiang Kai Shek and sent weapons, equipment and $2 billion to help him fight the Communists.
Communist support was too strong in China and it became a communist country.
How was The USSR linked to the USA?
It was rumoured that the USSR (Stalin) was taking over countries and turning them Communist (Indonesia, Burma and the Philippines.)
Truman was worried that communism would spread to the whole of Asia and it was decided it must be stopped.
How did the first invasion build up?
There was tension between North and South as both wanted complete power over Korea.
In the spring of 1950 Stalin felt as it is was safe to invade the South after the US troops pulled out and the Soviets had developed nuclear weapons.
The USSR began to supply tanks, artillery and aircrafts to North Korea.
South Korea had relied too heavily on US support and not developed their own troops.
When was the first invasion?
25th of June 1950
Stalin gave Kim Il sung permission to invade South Korea.
He also made it clear that the Soviet troops would not be involved.
By August, the RoK had retreated to Pusan.
President Truman declared the USA would go to aid South Korea.
How did the UN respond to the first invasion?
The security council met to discuss what to do after the invasion.
The USA said the UN should get an army together to aid the South.
The USSR would have vetoed this but they were boycotting the security council because they refused to recognise communism in China.
As a result the security council asked the Northern troops to leave the south and when they refused, the UN put troops together and take military action.
What was sent to Korea?
Truman ordered 60 battleships, 300 aircrafts and 40,000 soldiers to patrol the seas around North and South Korea.
Also he ordered a popular WW2 general, Douglas MacArthur, to send troops and supplies to help South Korea.
How did the USA attack back on the Northern troops?
On the 15th of September 1950 MacArthur launched a surprise attack from the sea at the Port of Inchon.
The UN forces quickly captured Inchon and pushed inland to recapture Seoul, in June the North Koreans had fallen to the south.
Other UN forces advanced from Pusan and both troops attacked the North Koreans.
By early October or northern troops had been driven out of South Korea and back behind the 38th parallel.
What happened after the US troops passed the 38th parallel?
The US let their forces advance past the 38th parallel because they believed it would unify the north and south.
China warned that if the UN forces continued to move north (towards China) China would join the war.
General MacArthur met with the Truman and told him that China would not join the war.
He was wrong about this, when the UN forces pushed to the Yalu river around 200,000 Chinese troops joined the North Koreans to fight back.
What happened after China joined the war?
After constant attacks the Chinese had pushed the UN forces into South Korea and retook Seoul.
By March 1951 the advance had been stopped as the UN forces fought back.
Seoul was recaptured by the UN forces (for the fourth time it had changed hands.)
The two sides were back where they had started, around the 38th parallel.
Why did Truman fire MacArthur?
Truman thought that the outcome was satisfactory as he could say that communism had been contained.
Also he though further fighting would drag the USSR into the war.
However MacArthur sent troops back to North Korea behind Trumans back and demanded for China to surrender so Korea could unite.
He said that the USA should be prepared to use nuclear weapons.
Truman sacked MacArthur because of his refusal to follow orders.
What is Stalemate?
Well neither the UN forces nor the Chinese and North Koreans were gaining the upper hand.
How did the US try to break the stalemate and get the North to surrender?
The US decided to use AirPower.
The US began bombing North Korean towns, cities, transport systems, factories and military bases with high explosives and Napalm.
1 million people died in these raids.
