The Korean War

Question 1

When did the Korean War begin/North Korea invades South Korea?

Answer 1

June 1950
The UN also demands the withdrawal of North Korean forces

Question 2

When did the Korean War end?

Answer 2

July 1953
A final peace agreement is reached

Question 3

How much did the US spend on the Korean War?

Answer 3

$18 billion

Question 4

How many Korean civilians die in the Korean War?

Answer 4

3.5-4 million

Question 5

When was the Korean peninsula taken from Japanese control and divided into two zones of occupation?

Answer 5

At Potsdam in August 1945

Question 6

When does Stalin agree to provide North Korea with military equipment?

Answer 6

February 1950

Question 7

When do Chinese forces enter the war on the side of North Korea?

Answer 7

October 1950

Question 8

When does Truman dismiss MacArthur?

Answer 8

April 1951

Question 9

When were the first attempts at peace negotiations proposed?

Answer 9

June 1951

Question 10

When does Stalin die?

Answer 10

March 1953

Question 11

When does the USA orchestrate the creation of the (capitalist) Republic of Korea from its zone? (South Korea)

Answer 11

August 1948

Question 12

When does the USSR orchestrate the creation of the (communist) Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from its zone? (North Korea)

Answer 12

September 1948

Question 13

the division of Korea in 1945

Answer 13

Harry S. Truman wanted to prevent Soviet occupation of the entire Korean peninsula as it was liberated from Japanese occupation by Soviet forces. The Americans were completing Japan’s defeat in the Pacific; therefore Korea was vulnerable. Stalin agreed to Truman’s plan to divide Korea but the USSR quickly began to treat North Korea as a sphere of Soviet influence.

Question 14

What was the similarity in the aims of Syngman Rhee and Kim Il Sung?

Answer 14

Both leaders were committed to the restoration of a united Korea under a single leader

Question 15

Who was Kim Il Sung?

Answer 15

had a long history of nationalist fighting. He had fought the Japanese and then fled to the USSR where he had been groomed as a possible leader of post-war Korea. Although a communist, he was in no sense a puppet of the USSR or China. He exploited the growing significance of Korea in the emerging Cold War environment of the late 1940s

Question 16

Who was Syngman Rhee?

Answer 16

had a long association with the USA, having lived there for about 40 years. He was a powerful propagandist for Korean nationalism within an apparently democratic context. Elements of the US government strongly supported him. A committed nationalist, he understood the nature of post-war international relations very well and he used this to both his own and South Korea’s advantage

Question 17

What were Rhee’s aims?

Answer 17

Rhee was both a nationalist and a virulent anti-communist who wanted to reunite Korea as a sovereign country that would not tolerate communism in any form. That meant removing communism from the North but also establishing in the process a stronger state that could resist any threats from the USSR. He argued that defending a border with Manchuria was better than defending a border at the 38th parallel. Rhee needed a guarantee from the USA that it would protect South Korea from an attack from the North and provide military aid to enable the South Korean Army to enforce the national reunification of Korea

Question 18

What Kim’s aims?

Answer 18

An equally uncompromising stance was taken by Kim Il Sung. He was committed to using force as the vehicle to achieve unification. This process began with the development of extensive guerrilla action by the North, which aimed to destabilise the South and undermine Rhee’s regime

Question 19

How many times did Kim ask Stalin for permission to invade the south?

Answer 19

48

Question 20

What four issues did Kim focus on in order to persuade Stalin to support an attack on the south?

Answer 20

• it would be a rapid and decisive victory
• there was a hard core of 200,000 communist supporters already in
  the South
• there was a well-organised communist guerrilla force operating in
  the South
• the USA would not have time to intervene

Kim Il Sung used the same tactics with China. In the process he attempted to undermine Stalin’s support when talking to Mao Zedong, and Mao’s support when talking to Stalin

Question 21

What is meant by guerrilla action?

Answer 21

fighting involving ‘undercover’ methods of attacking a stronger enemy; guerrillas often set traps and use ambush tactics, rather than engaging their opponents using traditional methods, to give them a greater chance of victory

Question 22

Why did Stalin initially refuse aiding Kim in a North Korean assault on South Korea in March 1949?

Answer 22

Stalin was acutely aware of the presence of 7500 US troops still in South Korea. He rejected Kim Il Sung’s pleas, and reiterated his support, but suggested Kim Il Sung should strengthen the guerrilla forces in the South in order to undermine the government there

Question 23

Why had Stalin’s position shifted by February 1950?

Answer 23

the international scene had changed by this time. Chinese communists had defeated the nationalists and set up the People’s Republic of China. The Americans had not included South Korea in their Defensive Perimeter Strategy

Question 24

What military aid did Stalin provide North Korea with?

Answer 24

1600 pieces of artillery, 178 military aircraft and 258 T-34 tanks

Stalin was not prepared to commit Soviet troops to participate in a war

Question 25

Why was Stalin not prepared to commit Soviet troops to participate in a war?

Answer 25

He had a number of priorities, which influenced his thinking:
* A war in Korea might bring in the USA and this could lead to a US–Soviet conflict that could spread into Europe. Stalin did not anticipate a global conflict but he was conscious of the fact that Europe was the epicentre of Cold War confrontation at this time
* A united communist Korean state as an ally of the USSR would be positive outcome. It would strengthen Soviet borders, put pressure on Japan, the USA’s principle ally in Asia, and provide economic opportunities for the USSR.
* If he stalled on supporting North Korea, Kim Il Sung could turn to China for its primary support. This might undermine Soviet influence in the region.
* The USSR had nuclear technology by 1950

He made it clear that if the North Korean venture failed, the Soviet Union would not commit its own troops against the Americans. Stalin was not prepared to engage in direct military confrontation with the USA, particularly in the context of nuclear weapons and the USSR’s inferior position at this time compared to the USA

Question 26

What were Mao’s priorities in 1949?

Answer 26

Mao’s immediate priorities in 1949 were focused on consolidating communist control in China and the consolidation of Chinese territory through regaining control of Taiwan from the nationalists. Mao was not particularly concerned about the future of Korea and it remained something of marginal importance

Question 27

What activated China’s response to the war?

Answer 27

It was a response to action by the USA that activated China’s involvement in the war. Harry S. Truman ordered the US 7th Fleet to defend Taiwan by positioning itself between China and Taiwan.

Question 28

Who were the USA’s national security priority in Asia until 1949?

Answer 28

Until 1949, the USA’s national security priority in Asia was Japan. The emerging struggle between North and South Korea was of secondary importance, compared to the need to strengthen the USA’s national security by protecting Japan and reviving its economic strength. The USA regarded the USSR as its greatest threat and the focus was on Europe rather than Asia, assuming Japan and the Defensive Perimeter States were secured

Question 29

What was the impact of the North Korean invasion on the USA?

Answer 29

The North Korean invasion fundamentally re-orientated US policy towards Korea. It was primarily what the invasion represented that alarmed the USA. In May 1951, Dean G. Acheson took the view that North Korea’s purpose was to destabilise Japan, Southeast Asia and the Philippines, and even to influence the position in Europe. These areas in the Far East, according to Acheson, would become unsettled if a communist assault on South Korea was successful. The stability established in Europe may also become weakened through a communist victory

Question 30

Why was the USSR boycotting the security council?

Answer 30

due to the majority decision to recognise the Republic of China under Jiang Jieshi as the legitimate government, not the People’s Republic of China under Mao

Question 31

What did boycotting the security council mean for the USSR?

Answer 31

This meant that the USSR could not use its power of veto in order to block Security Council action, therefore a resolution requiring an immediate ceasefire was passed without opposition

Question 32

How was Truman able to legitimise intervention in Korea?

Answer 32

Truman was able to legitimise intervention in Korea by turning the process into a UN intervention. This removed the possibility of the USA appearing to be unilaterally implementing containment on a global scale. Intervention under the guise of UN action removed responsibility from the USA, but enabled it to ensure an international response was coordinated to achieve the ends it wanted. The protection of South Korea was the end the USA sought and it believed the UN could deliver this

Question 33

Who was the UN force led by

Answer 33

MacArthur

Question 34

What were the 4 phases of the Korean war?

Answer 34

Phase 1: June–September 1950 (offensive)
* Forces of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea advanced into South Korea and reached a perimeter point close to Busan.
* Chinese troops were massed in Manchuria in readiness for a move into Korea.
* Through the United Nations, 29 states committed to military, economic or medical aid.
Phase 2: September–November 1950 (counter-offensive/offensive)
* MacArthur landed at Incheon and succeeded in forcing North Korean forces back across the 38th parallel.
* In October, Mao sent 300,000 Chinese troops across the Yalu River into North Korea.
* This led to a major counter-attack against the UN forces.
Phase 3: December 1950–June 1951 (stabilisation and negotiation)
* By January, Chinese forces had pushed across the 38th parallel and captured Seoul.
* In February, the UN condemned China as an aggressor.
* Due to his demands that US forces should push into North Korea and engage the Chinese, and use air strikes and nuclear weapons against them, MacArthur was dismissed by Truman in April. MacArthur wanted to commit the USA to a struggle for the reunification of Korea. Truman feared an extension of the war and bringing the USSR into it.
* By June, the USA was indicating to China and the USSR of its willingness to negotiate a ceasefire.
Phase 4: June 1951–July 1953 (stalemate and peace)
* Neither side mounted any significant military offensives during this period. The lack of UN action convinced Mao and Stalin that there was a genuine desire for a peace settlement.
* The USA had consolidated its relationship with Japan and felt more secure in its involvement with the Far East.
* A natural disinclination to cooperate with each other plus very protracted negotiations on post-war prisoner release arrangements led to long delays in reaching a final settlement.

Question 35

What did the Panmunjom Armistice Agreement confirm?

Answer 35

The Panmunjom Armistice Agreement confirmed:
* There was to be a military demarcation line with a demilitarised zone of two kilometres on each side. The line was roughly that of the 38th parallel.
* All military forces should withdraw to their respective territories.
* The repatriation of prisoners would begin.Essentially, the pre-war status quo was restored but the impact of the war was far reaching.

Question 36

The settlement

Answer 36

Although negotiations had started in July 1951, it was not until July 1953 that an armistice was agreed in Panmunjom. Rhee had obstructed the negotiations. He wanted to commit the USA to stronger ties with South Korea, by forcing the USA into a greater position of dependency upon South Korea as an agent of US containment. A significant delaying factor was removed when Stalin died in March 1953. In the immediate term he was replaced by the more compliant Georgy Malenkov.

Question 37

Why is the Korean War described as a ‘limited war’?

Answer 37

The Korean War was described as a ‘limited war’ in the sense that its purpose was to restore the status quo through the prevention of the spread of communism into South Korea. Although it appeared to achieve this objective, the USA was now committed to ensuring that any further spread of communism in the Far East could not happen

Question 38

Summary

Answer 38

The forces that impacted on the outbreak of the Korean conflict are as follows:
The USA’s interests:
* to ensure stability in the Far East, particularly the long-term security of Japan as a US ally
* to protect Taiwan from Chinese communist aggression
* to contain communism in the Far East.
The USSR’s interests:
* to avoid costly conflict with the USA
* to promote Stalin’s image as a defender of communism
* to undermine China as an emerging rival.
China’s interests:
* to establish China’s credentials as a significant force in the communist world and the Far East
* to be seen to be acting independently of the USSR
* to consolidate its position in terms of recovering Taiwan.