The Korean War Flashcards
What happened at Potsdam 1945
Korea was taken from Japan and divided into two occupation zones
August 1948 USA created Republic of Korea under sung man Rhee
September 1948 soviets created people’s Republic of Korea
Who was Kim I’ll sung and what did he believe
Chairman of newly formed provisional people’s committee determined not to form any coalition made up of anti comm representative
Force was the vehicle to reunification
If USA provided military equipment would enable south army to enforce reunification
What did sung man Rhee believe
Nationalist and communist
Provisional gov made up of ant comm representative s
As a sovereign country would not tolerate communists
What did both the Korean powers believe by 1949 sung man
Syngman Rhee could successful mount an attack that would reunify Korea could be better than defending at division
Kim I’ll sung conscious of significance soviet technology and feared for Korea due to us Japanese significance
Divided up winning external support collective power of the communist world increasing norths strength against the south
How did Kim I’ll sung want to win stalins support how did Stalin react
Focused on four issues to persuade Stalin
Would be a quick and decisive victory
200,000 comm supporters were already in South
Extensive gueriella force already existed
USA would not have time to intervene
Kim I’ll sung used same tactics with China
Jejected and reiterated that should strengthen guerrilla forces
What did Stalin do to intervene and why
By 1950 stalins position in South East Asia had changed Chinese comm defeated nationalists
Agreed to provide 1600 pieces of artillery and military air crafts ,
America left Korea out of defensive strategic perimeter
258 t34 tanks but would not commit troops
War I. Korea might lead to us soviet collect spreading in Europe didn’t want world conflict which Europe was centre of Cold War confrontation at the time soviets were weak Berlin crisis had just failed
United communist Korea would be strengthen position in Asia and provide economic opportunities for ussr
If stalled providing Korea help would turn to China undermine soviet influence
1950 had nuclear techno but it was at inferior position to USA
Korean War would undermine this power as they would have to commit resources
If Korea did fail soviet would commit own forces
China’s priorities in 1949
1949 consolidating a communist China
And Chinese territory such as Taiwan from nationalist not concerned about future of Korea when it invaded the South China would not intervene or offer any form of support
Didn’t want to take any action that would inflame the USA e.g ordered less emphasis on China acting as a prime mover in global struggle between communism and capatlilism -
Intervention was a reaction to action by USA when chin was represented in United Nations and U.S. 7th fleet would defend Taiwan
Extra reasoning why Mao didn’t intervene
Mao views were opposed in China from people such as Zhou enlai
Argued that internal consolidation of comm revolution without any external distractions would prevail
Mao held view that Manchuria that Chinese mass would amass in too near Soviet Union put U.S. forces at too great of risk
But discounting usa’s strength
Had to support communist comrades in November 1950 would be comelled to intervene
USA focus in Korea before war
National security priority in Asia was Japan needed to ensure USA national security by strengthening economic power of Japan
Regarded user greatest threat in and focus on Europe assuming defensive perimeter States were secured
May 1951 dean Acheson - nk purpose was to destabilise Japan and Southeast Asia e.g Philippines
And influence position in Europe
Far East would be unsettled if South Korean attack was successful
United Nations position in Korean War
After invasion was know. USA requested special session of security council at this point user were boycotting security council - nationalist China maintained seat in un user hoped to change that therefore wasn’t present when agreed to support U.S. demand invasion in South should be repelled - meant they couldn’t Use veto in order to prevent un support
Military involvement
Phase 1 1950 September
North advanced into South and reached a perimeter point near Pusan , through un 29 states committed military economic or medical aid , Chinese troops massed in Manchuria in readiness to move into Korea
Phase 2: nov
MacArthur landed in Inchon and succeeded in forcing nk back across 38th parallel , October Mao sent 300,000 Chinese troops across Yalu river into nk led to major counter attacks against Un troops
Phase 3:
December 195o June 51
By jan Chinese forces pushed across 38th parallel
In February in condemned China as an aggressor Mac Arthur demanded use of nuclear weapons and air strikes he was dismissed Truman feared would bring ussr intervention by June USA was indicating to China negiotitate a ceasefire
Phase 4 June - July 1951
Neither launch major military offensives lack of in intervention was suggested looking for a peace settlement , USA settled its relationship with Japan place in Asia was secure p and led to final settlement
Final settlement and its impact
July 1953
Demarcation military line and Demilitarised zone 2 km each side of 38th parallel , all military forces withdraw repartition of prisoners would begin ,
Long term security of each side was protected
China had lost chance to grip Taiwan - would remain under nationalist control
Huge economic pressure on ussr- accelerated economic pressure on ee States massive reduction in availability of consumer good leading to reaction against comm control
According to nsc68 USA would encourage nations resisting soviet aggression and globalisation of containment
Limited war purpose was to restore status quo through prevention of communism into South. Although it appeared to achieve this object USA was now committed to ensuring any further spreading of comm was prevented in Asia - led to strengthening of w Europe allowed to rearm and prospect of early solution of long term future of Germany was lost led to a depending Cold War uncertainty in Europe
