(6) Korean War Flashcards
What had been the Background to the Korean War?
✩ With the defeat of the Japanese in the Second World War, Soviet and US troops moved in, and it was temporarily divided into zones of occupation along the 38th Parallel.
✩ This was until elections were to be supervised by the UN. The USA and USSR failed to reach agreement on its reunification.
✩ The zones became two states by 1948; the communist industrial North was ruled by Kim Il Sung and the rural capitalist South was run by Syngman Rhee. After US and Soviet withdrawal, the North invaded the South in 1950 and war began.
What were the causes of the Korean War?
✩ Both occupational forces wished for Korea to be reunified under their respective politicians that represented their ideology: Syngman Rhee representing Capitalism in South Korea backed by the USA and Kim Il Sung representing Communism backed by the USSR.
✩ The fact that the US had left South Korea out of the defensive perimeter strategy and with the withdrawal of US forces from the South, it seemed ever more appealing for the communists to invade
The role of Kim Il Sung
- Was determined to invade the South and convinced Stalin of a swift victory owing to Rhee’s unpopularity.
- Made several proposals to Stalin for an attack on the South from 1949.
The role of Syngman Rhee
- Was involved in skirmishes with the Northern troops from early 1949 along the 38th Parallel
- Boasted about using force to unite Korea.
What was the role of the US in the Korean War?
✩ Wanted reunification under Rhee.
✩ Initially excluded South Korea from its Defensive Perimeter. This was a list of countries it would defend against communist aggression in Asia.
✩ Was pressured by the ‘loss of China’ and anti-communist hysteria at home.
✩ Within two days of the invasion, it sent air and naval power and requested assistance from the UN, which became an instrument of foreign policy.
What was the role of the USSR in the Korean War?
✩ Wanted reunification under Kim.
✩ Boycotted the UN-supervised elections in South Korea in 1948.
✩ Shared a border with Korea, giving rise to security concerns.
✩ Wanted access to raw materials and hydroelectricity which would be available in a communist Korea.
✩ Gave a cautious approval to Kim’s plans for attack but no firm commitments to help due to the fear of US intervention.
✩ Later sent military advisers and equipment.
What was the role of the Chinese in the Korean War?
✩ Knew of Kim’s plans but were averse to joining another war.
✩ Prioritised consolidating rule in China and the threat posed by Chiang Kai-shek in Taiwan, which they sought to invade.
✩ Were concerned about the relations between Kim and the USSR.
✩ Later sent troops and supplies as the war approached their border.
What was the role of the UN in the Korean War?
✩ Supervised elections in South Korea in 1948 but none in the North.
✩ Ratified US actions and the US support for the South.
✩ Asked North Korea to remove its troops and voted to send troops to the South. The USSR could have vetoed the proposal but was absent due to its protest over refusal to admit China into the UN.
✩ Agreed for 16 countries to send troops to defend South Korea including Britain, Canada and the USA to be led by US General Douglas MacArthur.
Two days within the invasion, what did the USA do?
- Within two days of the invasion, US deployed air and naval power and requested support from the UN, this displayed determination in support, arguably pressured by the “loss of China” that reinforced mass hysteria such as ‘McCarthyism’
What happened in the second phase of the Korean War, and when did it occur?
✩ Truman decided to change the USA’s policy of containment to the ‘destruction of North Korean armed forces’ and with this sent his troops across the border to North Korea.
✩ Truman made it clear that this was a change in policy due to the opportunity to weaken communism in Asia and that it had not been his intention all along to declare war on the communist state of North Korea.
✩ In September 1950, MacArthur landed at Inchon, behind North Korean lines. The ‘inchon landings’ suddenly reversed the tide of the war, forcing the invading North Korean army to retreat in disorder up the Korean peninsula.
Why had the second phase been significant?
✩ US policy shifted from containment to ‘roll back’ as outlined in NSC-68. Intelligence suggested that a swift victory seemed imminent.
What happened at the Yalu River?
✩ MacArthur was approaching the Yalu River by November 1950. There were fears that the UN might invade bordering China.
✩ Under pressure, China sent 300,000 troops across the Yalu River by October 1950.
What happened in the third phase of the Korean War, and when did it occur?
✩ From December - June 1951 - there had been a counter-offensive.
✩ Panic ensued in Washington as the UN forces were driven back. MacArthur recommended using the atomic bomb, but, under pressure from Britain, Truman settled for a limited war to expel the North Koreans from the south.
In the following months, what happened during the Third Phase?
- By January, the Chinese crossed the 38th Parallel and captured Seoul.
- In February, the UN condemned China as an aggressor.
- In April, MacArthur was dismissed by Truman owing to his warmongering.
- By June, the Americans were indicating their willingness to negotiate with North Korea.
Why had MacArthur and Truman had conflicting interests?
✩ MacArthur firmly believed that the main aim of the war was to win, and that victory meant the liberation of North Korea.
✩ President Truman was determined to fight only a limited war in Asia for the purpose of containing aggression against South Korea (supporting the view that he did not start the Korean War) and did not want to risk WWIII or committing too many scare resources in a strategically unimportant sector at the expense of opening Europe to Soviet attacks.
✩ Thus firing MacArthur demonstrated his desire for peace and safety of the USA.
