Korean war

Question 1

Rhee’s background

Answer 1

Nationalist - believed Korea should be ruled by Koreans
Lived in the USA from 1904-1945
m/c

Question 2

Sung’s Background

Answer 2

Fought against the Japanese invasion
Joined CCP and formed his own communist party
Spent WW2 in Russia
Lower m/c

Question 3

Rhee’s achievements

Answer 3

South korea is economically prosperous but largely due to US aid
Government was undemocratic and authoritarian

Question 4

Sung’s achievements

Answer 4

Dictator of North Korea
By 1980 NK was in severe financial difficulty - 1990 famine
Internationally isolated

Question 5

Rhee’s significance

Answer 5

Ambitious to reunify korea under his control
Embarrassed the US as he was not a democratic ruler

Question 6

Sung’s significance

Answer 6

Wanted to reunify korea under his own control
Sung was a poor advertisement for the communists as the North struggled economically

Question 7

How did China contribute to the start of the war?

Answer 7

Offered enthusiastic support from May 1950
Wanted to show their importance as a communist leader
Had a large army after the civil war
Invaded at the Yala river

Question 8

How did Russia contribute to the start of the war

Answer 8

Wanted to support the North but avoid war with the Americans
Feared the A bomb
March 1950 Stalin approved a NK attack on the South

Question 9

How did the USA contribute to the start of the war?

Answer 9

Wanted to support Rhee and keep the South free of communists - sent mixed messages
Defence Perimeter strategy - Dean Acherson failed to specify whether korea was included
Senator Connally also made a public speech which appeared to suggest the US wouldnt challenge the north
1950 a republican congress rejected a bill to send aid to SK for domestic reasons.

Question 10

How did South Korea contribute to the start of the war

Answer 10

Reunify Korea with himself as leader
Favoured a pro-american yet independent country with a capitalist economy
Initiated the border clashes
Sought american support for an attack o the North

Question 11

How did North korea contribute to the outbreak of war

Answer 11

Sung wanted to reunify Korea as a 1 party state and communist nation
pro-soviet and pro-chinese but independent korea with a state controlled economy
asked Russia and china for help

Question 12

When were the border clashes

Answer 12

1948-49

Question 13

When did stalin approve an attack on the South

Answer 13

March 1950