The Korean War -> Actions and attitudes of the UN, USA, USSR and China Flashcards
what explains why America goes into the Korean War so heavily?
Acheson’s Defensive Perimeter strategy with omitted Korea
What effect did the Korean War have on NSC-68?
Congress initially not willing to support NSC-68 as it meant trebling the defence budget
- the Korean War pushes for it to be pushed as it makes them realise passive containment wasn’t working
What were the USSR’s attitudes towards Korean War in 1949?
- March 1949 - Kim Il Sung turns to Stalin for support
- Stalin rejected Sung’s pleas
- Stalin aware 7500 US still in South Korea
- Reiterated his support
- Suggested to strengthen guerilla forces in South to undermine Rhee’s gov.
How did Stalin’s position change by Feb 1950?
- Stalin agreed to provide North Korea military aid
- 1600 pieces of artillery - large-calibre guns used in warfare on land
178 military aircraft - 258 T-34 tanks
- Not prepared to provide Soviet troops
What factors influenced Stalin’s limits and changes in position by 1950?
- USA didn’t include South Korea in Defensive Perimeter Strategy
- US & War in Korea
- War could bring USA in
US-Soviet conflict could spread into Europe
Global conflict - USSR had nuclear technology by 1950
how did the idea of a United Korean Communist state influence Stalin’s limits and changes in position by 1950?
- united Korean communist state as an ally of the USSR
- Strengthen Soviet borders
- Pressure Japan
- Economic opportunities for USSR
why did Stalin not want to stall?
- Sung could turn to China for support
- Undermine Soviet influence in Korea and Asia
When did Stalin show that he was unwilling to send Soviet troops to Korea?
- April 1950 - Stalin says to Sung he will not commit Soviet forces if North Korea faced conflict with USA
why was Stalin unwilling to send Soviet troops to Korea?
- Indirect military support is best option for USSR
- Stalin not prepared to have direct military confrontation with USA
- Partly due to US’ superiority in nuclear technology
What were China’s attitudes toward the Korean War in 1949?
- The Korean War was of little importance to Mao
- China did not intervene or offer support when North Korea invaded the South
What were Mao’s main priorities in 1949?
- To consolidate communist control in China
- To consolidate Chinese territory by regaining Taiwan from the nationalists
Why did Mao initially not offer support to North Korea?
- Mao was not eager for China to be a prominent force in the global struggle between communism and capitalist Western imperialism
- Mao was focused on China’s more immediate geostrategic priorities - Taiwan
- Mao was determined to avoid any action that could provoke the USA
What changed Mao’s mind about supporting North Korea?
In June 1950, Truman ordered the US 7th Fleet to defend Taiwan by positioning itself between China and Taiwan
- Following NK invasion of SK
What did Mao feel pressured to support and why?
- China had to be seen supporting the communist world against capitalist imperialism
- Pressure from Stalin
- Protect China’s reputation in communist world
what happened in late September 1950?
By late September 1950, UN forces were near the Yalu River forcing Chinese to unwillingly enter the war by proximity of US forces
When did China start supporting North Korea?
From 18 October 1950, Mao sent Chinese forces from the People’s Volunteer Army (PVA) to North Korea
- Mao presents entering the war as ending the century of humiliation by fighting
What were the US’ attitudes towards the struggle between North and South Korea prior to the Korean War?
- Struggle between North and South Korea was of secondary importance
what was the greatest threat to the US prior to the Korean War?
- Greatest threat was USSR, not North Korea
- Focus was on Europe, not Asia
where was the USA’s national security priority until 1949?
- Until 1949, the USA’s national security priority in Asia was Japan
- USA needed to strengthen its national security by protecting Japan and reviving its economy
What changed the US’ view towards the importance of North and South Korea?
- On 25 June 1950, North Korean troops invaded South Korea
- Invasion fundamentally re-orientated US policy towards Korea
What did the US secretary of state believe was North Korea’s purpose?
Dean G Acheson, US Secretary of State - May 1951
- Believed North Korea’s purpose was to destabilise Japan, Southeast Asia and the Philippines, and to influence the position in Europe
what did the US Secretary of State believe would be the consequences of North Korea’s invasion?
- Believed these areas in the Far East would become unsettled if North Korean invasion is successful
- Stability established in Europe may become weakened through a communist victory
When did Truman deliver a speech to Congress showing his reaction to the invasion?
27 June 1950
How did Truman react to the invasion of South Korea?
- ‘Communism has now passed beyond the use of subversion to conquer independent nations, and will now use armed invasion and war.’
- ‘It has defied the orders of the Security Council of the United Nations issued to preserve international peace and security.’
What action did the US take upon the invasion of South Korea?
- USA requested a special session of the Security Council (part of UN)
- Council agreed to send UN forces to fight North Korea
- Truman ordered US 7th Fleet to protect Taiwan (Formosa) from attack
Why did the USSR not veto the Security Council decision?
- After Chinese Civil War, Jiang Jieshi still held the Chinese seat in the Security Council
- In protest, the USSR boycotted the Security Council
- therefore, a resolution requiring an immediate ceasefire was passed without opposition
What did support from the UN represent for the US?
- Intervention under the guise of UN action removed responsibility from the USA
- enabled the US to ensure an international response was coordinated to achieve the ends it wanted
- the protection of S.K was the end the US sought and it believed the UN could deliver this
