GCSE Korea Knowledge Test Flashcards
When did Korea become a protectorate of Japan?
1905
Who did the Koreans fight on the same side as in WWII?
Japan
What Declaration made Korea independent in 1945?
The Potsdam Declaration
Who took over Japan after WWII?
The USA
Which superpower had its army in Machuria after WWII?
The USSR
Which European country had control in Indo-China: Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam?
France
At the Potsdam Conference of 1945 Korea was taken from Japan and divided into two. What was the dividing line?
The 38th Parallel
How much of the world’s gold reserve did the USA have in 1945?
Two-thirds
How many warships did the USA have in 1945?
1200
How many Long range B-29 bombers did the USA have in 1945?
1000
The RoK was formed in South Korea in 1948. What does RoK stand for?
Republic of Korea
The DPRK was formed in North Korea in 1948. What does DPRK stand for?
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Why did the USA distrust the USSR by the 1949?
USSR had taken over many Eastern European countries
How much had the US given Chiang Kai-Shek to sop the Communists in China?
$2 billion
Once Kai-Shek had lost to the Communists in 1949 where did he have to flee to?
Formosa/Taiwan
What was the Truman Doctrine?
The US policy to contain (stop the spread) of communism - containment.
Who was the communist leader of China?
Mao Zedong
Who was the leader of DPRK after it was set up in 1949?
Kim II Sung
How many communist sympathisers lived in the south?
200,000
Who was the leader of the RoK after it was set up in August 1948?
Syngman Rhee
Why did Stalin agree to help the DPRK after 1949?
China had become communist and he wanted to show Mao who was in charge or he wanted to get his own back for the failed Berlin Blockade
How many pieces of artillery did Stalin give the DPRK in 1950?
1600
How many T-34 tanks did Stalin give the DPRK in 1950?
258
How many military aircraft did Stalin give the DPRK in 1950?
178
Why did China get involved with Korea in November 1950?
Pressure from Stalin
What did Truman send to Korean waters following the North’s invasion of the South?
Warships and advisors
Why was the USSR boycotting the Security Council of the Un in 1950?
UN had failed to recognise Communist takeover of China
How did the absence of the USSR allow the USA to persuade the UN to get involved in Korea?
The USSR couldn’t veto UN involvement
What city did the DPRK capture on June 28th 1950?
South capital city, Seoul
Which south-eastern region had the forces of the RoK retreated to by August 1950?
Pusan
Where had Chinese troops assembled ready for an invasion by August 1950?
Manchuria
How many states had agreed to help the UN provide military, economic and medical aid to South Korea?
29
Who was put in charge of the UN troops?
General MacArthur
Where did the UN troops first attack the forces of the DPRK?
Inchon
By September 1950 the UN forces had pushed the DPRK troops back to the Chinese border. What river marks that border?
Yalu River
In late October 1950, how many Chinese troops launched an attack against the UN?
200,000
When did the UN troops lose control of Seoul?
January, 1951
When did MacArthur openly threaten China with an atom bomb without President Truman’s permission?
March, 1951
What happened to MacArthur in April 1951?
Truman sacked him
What started in June 1951?
Peace talks between North and South
What was the main reason for the failure of early peace talks?
The exchange of prisoners
Who died in March 1953 which helped peace talks?
Stalin
Who became the new leader of the USSR in March 1953?
Malenkov
Who became the new president of the USA in January 1953?
Eisenhower
Where was the armistice signed in July 1953?
Panmunjom
What three terms did the armistice confirm?
2 mile demilitarised zone either side of 38th Parallel, all forces withdraw to own territory, prisoner exchange would begin
How many casualties did the USA have?
30,00 died and 100,000 wounded
How much did US defence spending increase during the Korean War?
$48 billion from $12-$60 billion
What % of GDP did the US spend on the Korean War?
14%
What did the USA set up in 1954 to stop the spread of Communism in SE Asia?
SEATO (South East Asia treaty Organisation)
How big was the buffer zone on its own borders gained by China?
300KM
How many deaths did the Chinese suffer in the Korean War?
900,000
What did the RoK sign with the USA in 1953?
The Mutual Defence Treaty
How many Koreans were casualties of the War?
2.5 million
What percentage of Korean civilians died in the war?
10%
How many homes were destroyed in the war?
600,000
How many South Koreans were captured by the North?
80,000
What did the USSR have to increase spending on as a result of events in Korea?
Arms production
