The Cold War – Korean War. Korean War Background Japan occupied Korean until the end of WWII Japan occupied Korean until the end of WWII After the war,

The Cold War – Korean The Cold War – Korean WarWar

Korean War BackgroundKorean War Background

Japan occupied Korean until the Japan occupied Korean until the end of WWIIend of WWII

After the war, the U.S. would After the war, the U.S. would occupy the south, while the occupy the south, while the Soviets would occupy the northSoviets would occupy the north

It was to be temporarily divided at It was to be temporarily divided at the 38the 38thth parallel, but would parallel, but would eventually have its own eventually have its own government and independencegovernment and independence

Korean War BackgroundKorean War Background

At the Cold War developed, the At the Cold War developed, the U.S. and USSR became less U.S. and USSR became less willing to cooperatewilling to cooperate

The Americans persuaded the UN The Americans persuaded the UN to establish a commission to to establish a commission to supervise Korean elections, but supervise Korean elections, but they were refused entry into the they were refused entry into the NorthNorth

Therefore, two separate Therefore, two separate governments were set upgovernments were set up

Causes of the Korean War (June 1950)Causes of the Korean War (June 1950)

Kim Il Sung, the leader of South Korea, Kim Il Sung, the leader of South Korea, didn’t expect the U.S. to support the South, didn’t expect the U.S. to support the South, as Secretary of State Dean Acheson made a as Secretary of State Dean Acheson made a speech about the U.S.’s defense perimeter speech about the U.S.’s defense perimeter in the Western Pacific, which did not include in the Western Pacific, which did not include KoreaKorea

Il Sung persuaded Stalin that he should Il Sung persuaded Stalin that he should back an attack on the Southback an attack on the South

In June 1950, North Korea attacked South In June 1950, North Korea attacked South KoreaKorea

Why Did the U.S. Intervene?Why Did the U.S. Intervene?

It became an ideological dispute – containment It became an ideological dispute – containment of communismof communism

The fears of communism (McCarthyism) leads The fears of communism (McCarthyism) leads to the U.S. to interveneto the U.S. to intervene

Sino-Soviet Pact signed in 1950 increased fears Sino-Soviet Pact signed in 1950 increased fears of USSR’s dominance in Asiaof USSR’s dominance in Asia

Republicans blamed the Democrats and the Republicans blamed the Democrats and the Truman administration for “losing” China to Truman administration for “losing” China to communism in 1949communism in 1949

The administration believed that firm action The administration believed that firm action was believed to prevent the spread of was believed to prevent the spread of communismcommunism

Why Did the Soviets and China Support Why Did the Soviets and China Support the North Koreans?the North Koreans? Soviets:

Strengthen communism in Asia Kim might have turned to Mao if the Soviets didn’t

help Communists had won the Chinese Civil War Soviets had the atomic bomb Were concerned about Japan being anti-communist

China: It was a way of paying Kim back for support in the

Chinese Civil War Mao wanted to be the international communist

leader

Korean WarKorean War

Douglas MacArthur was called upon to lead Douglas MacArthur was called upon to lead UN troops in Korea. He was in charge of the UN troops in Korea. He was in charge of the occupation of South Korea and Japanoccupation of South Korea and Japan

Before UN troops arrived, the North Koreans, Before UN troops arrived, the North Koreans, supplied with Soviet tanks and air power, had supplied with Soviet tanks and air power, had swept through South Korea in just weeks. swept through South Korea in just weeks. Only a small part of the country, near the port Only a small part of the country, near the port city of Pusan, remainedcity of Pusan, remained

Korean WarKorean War United Nation’s Reaction United Nation’s Reaction

To KoreaTo Korea The Soviets temporarily left the The Soviets temporarily left the

UN Security CouncilUN Security Council In June 1950, they unanimously In June 1950, they unanimously

condemned North Korea as the condemned North Korea as the aggressor. The Soviets weren’t aggressor. The Soviets weren’t there to veto the vote (Taiwan)there to veto the vote (Taiwan)

The Council called upon all UN The Council called upon all UN members to help restore peace. members to help restore peace. Two days later, without Two days later, without consulting Congress, Truman consulting Congress, Truman ordered American air and naval ordered American air and naval units to support South Koreaunits to support South Korea


He also ordered General Douglas He also ordered General Douglas MacArthur’s Japanese based MacArthur’s Japanese based occupation troops into action occupation troops into action against the North Koreansagainst the North Koreans

Officially, the U.S. was participating Officially, the U.S. was participating in a UN “police action.” But in fact, in a UN “police action.” But in fact, the U.S. made up the overwhelming the U.S. made up the overwhelming bulk of the UN contingents, and bulk of the UN contingents, and General MacArthur, appointed UN General MacArthur, appointed UN commander of the entire operation, commander of the entire operation, took his orders from Washington, took his orders from Washington, not from the Security Councilnot from the Security Council

Korean War (September 1950)Korean War (September 1950)

MacArthur suspected that the North MacArthur suspected that the North Korean’s supply line was stretched Korean’s supply line was stretched thin. Therefore, he decided to land thin. Therefore, he decided to land troops at Inchon, near the 38th troops at Inchon, near the 38th parallel and attack enemy supply lines parallel and attack enemy supply lines from behindfrom behind

The strategy worked, causing the The strategy worked, causing the North Koreans to withdraw to near the North Koreans to withdraw to near the Yalu RiverYalu River

MacArthur didn’t want the North MacArthur didn’t want the North Koreans regrouping and coming againKoreans regrouping and coming again

Korean War (November 1950)Korean War (November 1950)

At this point, the Chinese, who At this point, the Chinese, who were Communist, told the UN to were Communist, told the UN to not advance any farther. not advance any farther. However, MacArthur didn’t listenHowever, MacArthur didn’t listen

He didn’t believe that Chinese He didn’t believe that Chinese intervention would be effectiveintervention would be effective

Thousands of Chinese Thousands of Chinese “volunteers” fell upon his “volunteers” fell upon his overextended lines and pushed overextended lines and pushed the U.N. forces southwardthe U.N. forces southward


Humiliated, MacArthur wanted:Humiliated, MacArthur wanted: The old Chinese government, The old Chinese government,

which had taken refuge in which had taken refuge in Taiwan, go back to China and Taiwan, go back to China and create a second frontcreate a second front

He also wanted to use nuclear He also wanted to use nuclear bombs on China if they got bombs on China if they got involvedinvolved

A blockade of the Chinese coastA blockade of the Chinese coast Bombardment of Chinese bases Bombardment of Chinese bases

in Manchuriain Manchuria


Washington’s ReactionWashington’s Reaction Didn’t want to enlarge the war. Didn’t want to enlarge the war.

Europe and USSR are priority #1Europe and USSR are priority #1 MacArthur wrote Congress, criticizing MacArthur wrote Congress, criticizing

the Presidentthe President Truman fired him. He feared that the Truman fired him. He feared that the

war would escalate and possibly war would escalate and possibly draw in the Sovietsdraw in the Soviets

MacArthur was deemed a hero by MacArthur was deemed a hero by many, while Truman was considered many, while Truman was considered an idiotan idiot

Ridgeway replaced MacArthurRidgeway replaced MacArthur


After two more years, a truce was signed in 1953After two more years, a truce was signed in 1953 It left Korea in about the same state it was in before the It left Korea in about the same state it was in before the

warwar Deaths/Wounded:Deaths/Wounded:

Americans – 55,000; 113,000Americans – 55,000; 113,000 South Korea – 415,004; 428,568South Korea – 415,004; 428,568 North Korea/Communist China – 2,000,000 casualtiesNorth Korea/Communist China – 2,000,000 casualties

Effects of the Korean War on Effects of the Korean War on KoreaKorea

No hope for unificationNo hope for unification Koreans were forcibly conscriptedKoreans were forcibly conscripted Couldn’t tell who the enemy was, so Couldn’t tell who the enemy was, so

many innocent civilians were killedmany innocent civilians were killed Crimes against POWs were committedCrimes against POWs were committed Korean borders were left in about the Korean borders were left in about the

same state as it was in before the war, same state as it was in before the war, although both sides were devastated by although both sides were devastated by the warthe war

South Korean deaths – 415,000South Korean deaths – 415,000 North Korean deaths – 520,000North Korean deaths – 520,000

Effects of the Korean War on Effects of the Korean War on ChinaChina

The war strengthened alliances in the West, The war strengthened alliances in the West, but alienated the Chinese and Sovietsbut alienated the Chinese and Soviets

China held their own against UN/US forces, China held their own against UN/US forces, so they gained prestigeso they gained prestige

As a result of the Korean War, Truman As a result of the Korean War, Truman recognized only Taiwan as the real China recognized only Taiwan as the real China and protected it with the 7and protected it with the 7thth Fleet Fleet

China obtained loans and technical China obtained loans and technical assistance from the Soviets (engaged in the assistance from the Soviets (engaged in the first 5-Year Plan)first 5-Year Plan)

China became disillusioned with the Soviets China became disillusioned with the Soviets because they sold them military equipment because they sold them military equipment at high pricesat high prices

Effects of the Korean War on Effects of the Korean War on the U.S.the U.S.

First instance of fighting in the First instance of fighting in the Cold WarCold War

Nuclear war nearly occurredNuclear war nearly occurred American deaths – 55,000American deaths – 55,000


Showed the need to intervene in the Showed the need to intervene in the Far East (increased aid to French in Far East (increased aid to French in Indochina)Indochina)

Created three pacts with nations in the Created three pacts with nations in the region:region:U.S.-PhilippinesU.S.-PhilippinesU.S.-JapanU.S.-JapanANZUS – Australia, New Zealand, ANZUS – Australia, New Zealand,

U.S.U.S. Strengthening of NATO and creation of Strengthening of NATO and creation of

military bases in Turkeymilitary bases in Turkey Rearmed West GermanyRearmed West Germany


NSC-68 was passedNSC-68 was passed At first a buried document, Truman At first a buried document, Truman

recommended in NSC-68 that the recommended in NSC-68 that the U.S. should increase its defense U.S. should increase its defense spending 4xspending 4x

The results were:The results were: 3.5 million people in the military and 3.5 million people in the military and

$50 billion a year on defense$50 billion a year on defense Aid would be given to any country Aid would be given to any country

perceived to be resisting perceived to be resisting CommunismCommunism

A sense of almost limitless money A sense of almost limitless money for armsfor arms

Effects of the Korean War on Effects of the Korean War on the USSRthe USSR

Not only did China become upset at Not only did China become upset at the lack of assistance from the the lack of assistance from the USSR, but it deepened the USSR, but it deepened the divisions in the Cold Wardivisions in the Cold War

The USSR now was embroiled in The USSR now was embroiled in an even more intense and broader an even more intense and broader Cold War standoff than prior to Cold War standoff than prior to 19501950

Documents

The Cold War – Korean War. Korean War Background Japan occupied Korean until the end of WWII Japan occupied Korean until the end of WWII After the war,