Paper 1 Theme 1 - Topic 2: Korean War

Question 1

Division of Korea

Answer 1

Aug 10 - Aug 17 1945

Soviets to occupy the area north of the 38th parallel while US to occupy the south as agreed in Potsdam.

Question 2

Formation of Republic of Korea (South)

Answer 2

August 1948

The UN conducted elections in SK in May 1948 and ROK was proclaimed soon

Question 3

Formation of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North)

Answer 3

September 1948

Question 4

Victory of Chinese Communist Party

Answer 4

October 1, 1949
The US had provided aid to China from 1941-1945. She wanted to strengthen and make China an ally after the war. However, the Chinese Civil War broke out in 1946. The Truman administration the KMT with large amounts of aid. The KMT still lost and Mao proclaimed the establishment of the PRC on 1st October 1949
USSR did not commit to helping CCP.

Question 5

Sino-Soviet Alliance

Answer 5

February 1950

Question 6

Dean Acheson’s defensive parameters speech

Answer 6

Jan 12, 1949
Dean Acheson defined the US’s “defensive perimeter” in Asia as encompassing Japan and the Philippines, but excluded South Korea and KMT-ruled Taiwan. This gave Stalin the impression that the US would not go to far measures to protect South Korea.

Question 7

Soviet explosion of the atomic bomb

Answer 7

August 1949

Question 8

NSC-68

Answer 8

April 1950
The report recommended policies that emphasized military over diplomatic action. It called for the globalisation of the containment policy through the tripling of the American defence budget.

Question 9

Civil war?

Answer 9

March 1949 - Kim asked Stalin for permission to start a war, who refused as he was not convinced the North Koreans were prepared. Furthermore, he was caught up with the Berlin Crisis.
August 1949 - Kim requested for USSR’s help again but was again rejected by Stalin due to fears of military confrontation with US.
May 1950 - Presented invasion plan to Mao and exaggerated Stalin’s support. Mao feared retaliation from US but did not want to hinder chances of receiving aid from USSR.

Question 10

Start of Korean War

Answer 10

25 June 1950`

Question 11

Chinese officially joined the offensive

Answer 11

Oct 1950

Question 12

Stalemate

Answer 12

June 1951

Question 13

MacArthur’s dismissal

Answer 13

April 1951

Question 14

Eisenhower’s ascension and Stalin’s death

Answer 14

Jan 1953 and March 1953 respectively

Question 15

Armistice

Answer 15

27 July 1953

Question 16

Reason for US involvement

Answer 16

1. Perceived NK to be part of the communist bloc. Assumed Stalin was the mastermind
2. Contain Soviet aggression and protect American credibility in the Western bloc.
3. Domestic pressure due to McCarthyism

Question 17

Domino theory

Answer 17

April 1954
Eisenhower expounded the theory, which described the spreading of communism in Indochina to have a chain effect.
“loss of Indochina, of Burma, of Thailand, of the Peninsula, and Indonesia following”

Question 18

Reason for USSR involvement

Answer 18

1. America defensive perimeter
2. Soviet acquisition of atomic bomb
3. Maintain international status as leading communist country
4. Agreed on the condition that the war would be short

Question 19

Reason for China’s involvement

Answer 19

1. Threatened by anti-communist country at its doorstep should Korea be unified under a democratic government
2. Obliged to aid fellow communist ally (plus Kim’s men helped Mao’s army in civil war)
3. Enhance its status among communists and Third World countries
4. Increase its influence in the DPRK

Question 20

Impact on USA

Answer 20

1. Military spending quadrupled

Question 21

Formation of SEATO

Answer 21

Signed between South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand

Question 22

Impact on USSR

Answer 22

1. Lost influence in NK as taken over by China
2. Created Warsaw Pact in May 1955
3. Looked to influence Middle-East
4. Lost international standing

Question 23

Impact on China

Answer 23

1. Enhanced PRC’s prestige and emerged as a leading communist power in Asia
2. Hostility with US increased

Question 24

Impact on Korea

Answer 24

1. Huge amounts of casualties - 400,000 died in SK, 1.5million died or wounded in China and NK