The Widening of the Cold War, 1949–1955: The Korean War - Causes, Position and Aims of Kim ll Sung and Syngman Rhee

Question 1

How was Korea split at the end of WWII?

Answer 1

• At Potsdam in August 1945
• Korea taken from Japanese control and divided into two zones of occupation
• Occupied by USA (south) and USSR (north)
• Separated at 38th parallel

Question 2

When were two separate Korean states established?

Answer 2

• August 1948
• USA created the Republic of Korea
• September 1948
• USSR created the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Question 3

Who were put in place to lead North and South Korea?

Answer 3

• USA and USSR picked leaders they thought they could control

• Republic of Korea
- Syngman Rhee

• Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

• Kim Il Sung
• Chairman of provisional communist gov. - Korean Provisional People’s Committee

Question 4

How did the USA and USSR arrange their provisional governments in Korea?

Answer 4

• Installed leaders they thought they could control
• USSR avoided coalitions with non-communist groups
• USA picked anti-communist representatives from political right and centre

Question 5

What were Sung and Rhee’s ultimate aim?

Answer 5

• To restore Korea’s sovereignty under one leader

Question 6

What was Rhee’s position with regard to uniting Korea?

Answer 6

• Wanted a united Korea without communism
• Wanted to remove communism from North and strengthen Korea to resist threats from USSR
• Favoured defending a border with Manchuria rather than defending one at 38th parallel
• In late 1949, Rhee was confident that a major assault against the North could be successfully mounted
• A reunited Korea would be easier to defend from USSR

Question 7

What did Rhee want from the USA?

Answer 7

• Wanted USA to protect South Korea from an attack from North
• Provide military aid to South Korean Army

Question 8

What was Sung’s position with regard to uniting Korea?

Answer 8

• Also wanted to use force to reunite Korea

- Used guerilla action to destablise South

Question 9

How did Sung try convincing USSR and China to support the North?

Answer 9

• Invasion 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