Korean War-Short Version
Korean War Notes
Japan occupied Korea for 30 years until 1945. The Allies divided Korea into two parts in 1945 at the 38th parallel. Supposed to be temporary, but then the Cold War started. Soviet troops in North and US in South until 1948-49 when they were withdrawn.
North: communist leader Kin I1 Sung; had Soviet equipment/well trained army.
South: anti-Communist leader Syngman Rhee, not democratic and peasants did not support him. Both sides wanted control of whole country; brutal treatment of prisoners on both sided.
-North Korea would not allow free elections because 2/3rds of the people lived in South Korea.
-The US and the SU both claimed to want to reunify Korea, but each helped to establish rival regimes.
Why North attacked the South: Stalin encouraged the attack because he couldn’t take any more of Europe and wanted to show Soviet strength to Mao (China). Show Japan the SU is strong.
o January 1950 Secretary of State Dean Acheson made a speech stating Korea was not vital to US interests in the Pacific (gave communists the OK to invade).
o Several delegates from NK were arrested by SK.
o Also believed that NK attacked SK in anticipation of an early SK initiative (SK had a larger military and NK may have wanted to surprise SK).
Soviets were absent when UN Security Council met June 27, 1950 and voted to assist South Korea. Called a “police action”. In August Soviet delegates returned and would veto any additional UN votes. Sixteen total countries sent forces (G.B., Turkey, Australia, but US sent 50% of ground troops, 85% of navy, and 93% of airforce; South Korea = 40% of ground troops.
-SU boycotted the UN because Communist China was not admitted to the UN (US recognized nationalists as China’s legal government).
When Pusan held, MacArthur makes bold plan to land Marines at Inchon and cut North’s supply lines, retake Seoul, and trap North’s troops. It was a success.
UN General Assembly approved unification of Korea under democratic gov’t, and UN forces cross the 38th parallel and proceed toward Yalu River.
US and China have some misunderstandings: China wanted to protect its border, warned the US; China viewed US as the invader like Japan (Manchuria). MacArthur did not believe Chinese would enter the war and didn’t respect Chinese soldiers and misjudged their strength.
-MacArthur assured Truman that the Chinese would not intervene despite China’s warnings.
October 26, 1950: 200,000-300,000 Chinese soldiers attack/surprise/wipe-out UN forces. Frostbite, cold, rough terrain in the North: UN forces retreat.
Spring 1951, MacArthur wanted to widen the war, maybe use atomic bomb, argues with
President Truman over policy and is fired. Not a popular decision among Americans, and soon they lose interest in helping Korea (containment policy does not always mean victory).
-Should there be a “limited war” or an “all-out war”.
-MacArthur wants to use the atomic bomb against China and use Chiang Kai-shek’s forces (all-out war).
Stalemate after one year-neither side could win. Peace negotiations begin July 1951. North Korean cities are bombed; P.O.W. camps-brutal treatment /conditions; lots of propaganda on both sides; one million Korean civilians die. Cease-fire July 1953, Stalin has died, and new US President Eisenhower sounds aggressive.
Treaty of Panmunjon: 38th parallel divides the North and South, each nation has its own gov’t, Demilitarized zone created (DMZ), but nothing really changes.
The Truman administration viewed the war as an effort to maintain American credibility abroad and American credibility at home (the US already lost China to the Communists).
Forty thousand prisoners in SK did not want to return to China or North Korea.
Primary “deterrent policy” of NATO (created in April 1949) was the use of the nuclear weapon. President Eisenhower threatened he would use it after the Korean War.
The SU acquired bomb technology in 1949 and using nuclear weapons as a deterrent ended when the SU launched Sputnik in 1957.
NATO used “Flexible Response” in 1962: use and strengthen conventional forces before using the bomb.
“Harmel Report” in 1967 (Belgium foreign minister Pierre Harmel’s study):
-stated that the pursuit of peace and stability in Europe, was just as important as the function of collective defense “Détente” = cooling off period of hostile relations.
1978-79 Soviet modernized nuclear missiles at Western Europe and Soviet military intervened (1979) in Afghanistan. Détente ends.
In 1979 US is dealing with oil stock shortage and post-Vietnam problems. US countered by upgrading and placing missiles in G.B., Germany, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
In 1987 the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signed by Reagon and Gorbachev. Limits nuclear weapons. Cold War slowly comes to an end.
In 1991 North Korea officially recognized the existence of South Korea. Agree that they should get nuclear weapons out of Korea.
South Korea Today:
-Unlikely China or Su would want to get involved in a North Korean invasion of South Korea.
-Costs $2.7 billion a year to keep US soldiers in South Korea (43,000 troops).
-South Korean economy 8* larger then NK, and 2* the # of people living in SK vs. NK.
-SK provides only $7,000 in direct support to each US soldier in SK (Japan provides $40,000 for each troop).
-Both countries have grown up (MAYBE). Only a cease-fire exists in Korea. War could start any time.
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