6. Korean war Flashcards
what did the US+USSR both implement in Korea?
-leaders who they believe they could control
who was the NK loader for USSR and the SK leader for the USA?
- KIm II Sung as chairman for soviets
- Syngman Rhee for the USA
- both comittted to a united Korea under a single leader and their own regime
who was Syngman Rhee?
- nationalist
- didn’t tolerate communism and wanted it removed
- wanted assurance from US that they would protect SK
what strategy did Kim create to win external suport?
- had 200,000 communist supporters in SK
- organised guerrilla force
- USA no time to intervene
when did Kim first turn to Stalin for help+ stalins reply?
- March, 1949
- he told him to strengthen his guerrilla force
why had Stalins international position changed by 1950
- china became communist 49
- Korea not included in defensive perimeter 50
- USSR detonation of atomic bomb 49
why did Stalin want to allow NK to invade SK?
- united communist Korea would be an ally + pressure japan
- if stalin didn’t agree Kim may turn to china’s aid and undermine stalin’s power
- provided 1600 pieces of artillery
- only worry about the fact that the US may get involved
what were Mao’s priorities after china went red?
- consolidating communist control
- consolidate Chinese territory
why didn’t Mao help when NK invaded SK?
-didn’t want to inflame in US
why did Mao help NK?
- because stalin compelled him to in November, 1950
- he didn’t want to appear to not be aiding communist comrades in their fight against communism
- when Truman ordered the 7th fleet to defend Taiwan (placed between taiwan and china)
- UN troops were also making an advance on manchuria
until 1949 what was the US’s national security priority?
- Japan
- struggle between nk and sk had second importance
how did Korean war re-orientate US policy towards Korea?
- they were the main priority rather than japan
- believed invasion wanted to destabilise japan’s position in Asia
- Acheson also believed stability in Europe may be weakened
when US heard about invasion what was their response?
- immediately appealed to the UN security council to authorise military intervention
- their response was aggressive they believed if it was weak it would invite further invasion by soviet puppets
why was it so easy the US to get UN intervention in Korea?
- because the USSR were boycotting the UN
- therefore weren’t there to Veto resolution
- US could dominate security council
explain the Korean war
- Kim was winning
- they had conquered 90%
- Un forces confined to pusan
- Un forces then pushed back forcing NK troops past the 38th parallel (which Truman disagreed on)
- Kim requested Stalin to ask Chinese to intervene November, 1950
- april MacArthur relieved of his position
- by end of 1950 UN troops had been pushed back across the 38th parallel
