The Korean War 1950-1953

Question 1

What was agreed at Potsdam regarding Korea?

Answer 1

That the peninsula should be taken from Japan and divided into two zones of occupation by the 38th parallel with the Soviet zone to the North and the American zone to the South

Question 2

When was the Republic of Korea created?

Answer 2

August 1948 by USA

Question 3

When was the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea created?

Answer 3

September 1948 by the USSR

Question 4

Who was the Soviet leader in the North?

Answer 4

Kim II SUng

Question 5

Who was the USA leader?

Answer 5

Syngman Rhee

Question 6

What were Rhees aims?

Answer 6

To reunite Korea as a sovereign country that would not tolerate communism in any form.
Wanted a guarantee from the US that they would protect South Korea against any attack from the North

Question 7

What stance was taken by Sung?

Answer 7

He was committed to using force to achieve unification.
eg the use of guerrilla action in an aim to destabilise the South and undermine Rhee’s regime.
Developed a strategy based on winning external support from USSR and China

Question 8

Why did Stalin agree to provide the North with artillery, aircraft and tanks in February 1950?

Answer 8

• China had become Communist
• Americans hadn’t included South Korea in their defensive perimeter strategy
• Persuasion from Kim II Sung

Question 9

Why did China decide to get involved in the Korean war?

Answer 9

Truman ordered the US 7th Fleet to defend Taiwan by positioning itself between China and Taiwan

China had to be seen to be supporting fellow communist comrades in their struggle against capitalist imperialism

Question 10

When did China get involved in the war?

Answer 10

October 1950

Question 11

Why did the US get involved?

Answer 11

• To ensure stability in East Asia, particularly the long term security of Japan as an US ally.
• To protect Taiwan from Chinese communist aggression
• to contain communism in the region

Question 12

How did was the UN involved?

Answer 12

The USA requested a special session of the Security council and with the USSR currently boycotting the security council a resolution requiring an immediate ceasefire was passed without opposition. Without the USA appearing to be unilaterally implementing containment on a global scale

Question 13

When did Truman dismiss MacArthur

Answer 13

April 1951

Question 14

When did Stalin die?

Answer 14

March 1953

Question 15

What was the solution to the Korean war and what did it confirm?

Answer 15

The Panmunjom Armistice Agreement
confirmed:
-A military demarcation line with a demilitarised zone of 2km on each side (38th parallel)
- All military forces should withdraw to their respective territories

Question 16

What were the impacts of the Korean war?

Answer 16

• long-term security of the North and South Korea
• long-term security of Taiwan
  -acceleration of the industrialisation of Eastern Europe by Stalin due to economic pressures from war
• strengthening of military resources in Western Europe eg Western germany was allowed to rearm

Question 17

What were Stalins interests in the Korean war?

Answer 17

• To avoid costly conflict with the USA
• To promote Stalin’s image as a defender of communism
• To undermine China as an emerging rival

Question 18

What were Mao’s interests in the Korean war?

Answer 18

• To establish China’s credentials as a significant force in the communist world and East Asia
• To be seen as acting independently of the USSR
• To consolidate its position in terms of recovering Taiwan.