Chapter 6: The Korean War 1950-3 Flashcards

Causes, involvement of powers, settlement, impact

1
Q

What was the Korean situation up to the end of WW2?

A
  • Annexed by Japan 1910 until end of WW2
  • Korean nationalists led a revolution in 1945 but had no say in what happened to the country
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2
Q

What was decided for Korea after WW2?

A
  • US + USSR had joint occupation by splitting the country –> meant to be temporary
  • Dec 1945 Moscow Conference –> will put in a provisional government to lead to independence
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3
Q

How did the division of Korea escalate up to the war?

A
  • Cold war development = hard to cooperate –> propose 2 leaders
  • South –> ROK set up with nationalist leader Syngman Rhee
  • North –> DPRK set up with communist leader Kim Il Sung
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4
Q

How did the USSR cause the Korean war? (x5)

A
  • Initially deny the invasion but in the end are the ones who authorise the war
  • Have an atomic bomb - end of US nuclear monopoly
  • Korea would turn to China for help undermining Soviet communist dominance
  • Wanted to support communist expansion and a united communist Korea would be a good ally
  • Supported with weapons and technology
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5
Q

How did China cause / get involved in the Korean war? (x3)

A
  • Didn’t want to at the start - Korea = insignificant + USA = scary
  • Got involved as the US’s 7th fleet moved to defend Taiwan
  • Wanted to prove their regime and communist power
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6
Q

How did the US cause / escalate the Korean war? (x5)

A
  • Needed to ensure stability in Asia and protect ally Japan
  • Didn’t include South Korea in defensive perimeter –> seen as fair game
  • Containment = need to stop them
  • Sent troops to Korea and stationed 7th fleet in front of Taiwan –> aggravated others
  • Used atomic diplomacy a lot so now they were equal USSR feels they can do anything
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7
Q

How did North Korea cause the Korean war? (x4)

A
  • Want to unite country under their leader
  • Pressured USSR + China to help them and played them off each other for resources and support
  • Kim Il Sung = extreme communist and aggressive –> hell bent on an invasion - asked multiple times before being given a yes
  • Formed a large guerrilla military to prepare
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8
Q

How did the UN get involved in the Korean war?

A
  • Security council met to decide what to do
  • Chinese seat given to Taiwan as USA refused to recognise ‘red China’
  • Led to USSR boycotting UN –> not there to veto so they created a military force to send
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9
Q

What happened in Stage 1 of the Korean War?

A
  • June - September 1950
  • Offensive
  • North advance all the way to Pusan
  • Chinese troops mass in Manchuria
  • By UN 29 states send aid
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10
Q

Describe phase 2 of the Korean war

A
  • September - November 1950
  • Counter offensive
  • MacArthur lands in Inchon
  • Northern troops forced back over 38th parallel
  • Oct - 300,000 Chinese troops sent over Yalu river –> major counter offensive against UN troops
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11
Q

What was the 3rd phase of the Korean War?

A
  • December 1950 - June 1951
  • Stabilisation + negotiation
  • Jan - Chinese moved south to capture Seoul
  • MacArthur dismissed after suggesting to nuke everyone –> Truman scared of war with USSR
  • June - US shows willingness to negotiate
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12
Q

What was phase 4 of the Korean war?

A
  • June 1951 - July 1953
  • Stalemate and peace
  • No major offensives —> convinces Mao + Stalin they really want to negotiate
  • US consolidate relationship with Japan
  • The natural dislike and tensions between countries cause long negotiations - also can’t agree on prisoners of war
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13
Q

State the settlement from the end of the Korean war

A
  • Negotiations begin July 1951 —> armistice agreed July 1953
  • Stalin’s death March 1953 sped things up
  • Demilitarised line for 2km each side (around 38th parallel)
  • Military forces withdraw to own sides
  • Repatriation of prisoners
  • Signed in Panmunjom
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14
Q

What was the impact of the Korean War in the USA? (x8)

A
  • Sign a peace treaty with Japan (1951)
  • SEATO made (1954]
  • NSC-68 = military expenditure increases from 1950
  • Commit to protecting Taiwan
  • Support French in Vietnam but lose and had payed 70% of the war
  • Incorporate West Germany in NATO (1955)
  • Anti communist hysteria in early 1950s
  • Change president - favour roll back
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15
Q

How did the Korean War impact China? (x4)

A
  • Relations with US are very hostile until 1970s
  • Gain reputation in communist world and boost military
  • Security threatened by US in Asia
  • Isolated internationally due to involvement war
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16
Q

What consequences did the Korean War have on USSR? (x4)

A
  • Increase industry in Eastern Europe due to cost of military causing some reaction against communist rule
  • 1955 Warsaw pact with E Europe as a response to West Germany in NATO
  • Spend more on military
  • Arms race with US
17
Q

How was the UN impacted by the Korean War?

A
  • Seen as a tool of capitalism by communist world which damaged its reputation as an impartial and independent body
  • Did show it could take action against an aggressor unlike LON
18
Q

What impacts did the Korean war have one North and South Korea?

A
  • 415,000 South Koreans killed
  • 500,000 North Koreans killed
  • 5 million Koreans left homeless due to the damage of the war –> it had been a total war –> infrastructure + industry destroyed