The Korean War

The Forgotten War1950 – 1953

Early Origins

1910-1945 Korea was ruled by Japan

After WWII it was divided into North & South Korea

By 1949, the U.S. began withdrawing troops while the Soviets increased supplies to North Korea to aid the invasion of South Korea

War Begins

June 25, 1950 North Korea invades the South

Truman fears repeating “appeasement” & demands support for containment

*1st armed confrontation of the Cold War

Role of the United Nations

South Korea asks the U.N. for assistance Due to the Soviet boycott & the position

of China with Nationalist Taiwan, the Security Council agrees to help

The U.N. sends 15 nations (including the U.S., Britain & Canada)

Troops are led by General Douglas MacArthur

US & UN Pushed to Pusan

Korean War

By Sept 1950, the North controls the entire Korean peninsula except for Pusan

MacArthur designs an attack at Inchon where the South Koreans force half of the North Koreans to surrender & the rest to retreat (by attacking from Pusan in both directions)

Inchon is risky but successful & the South recaptures its capital at Seoul

U.N. & U.S. Push to China

China’s Involvement

U.N. troops continue to push north to the Yalu River (border of China)

China has warned that if the Yalu is breached, it will react [China is worried of U.S. influence in Asia]

Oct 1950 the Chinese enter & this becomes a war between China & the U.S.

The Chinese push troops South & recapture Seoul

Chinese unexpected entry turns the tide of the war

General MacArthur

MacArthur threatens the use of the atomic bomb (but Truman disagrees)

MacArthur goes to Congress (behind Truman’s back) > fired for disobedience

*[Despite the fact that the U.S. enters the war without a declaration of war by Congress]

M*A*S*H*

Mobile Army Surgical Hospital

*1st used in the Korean War

Greatly reduced the casualties of war

Books, movie & TV series based on MASH units

End of the War

By 1952, the U.N. has Seoul & South Korea A stalemate ensues (see-saw fighting) &

by July 1953, a cease-fire is signed Division remains at the 38th parallel Approximately 5 million die in this war 4 million Koreans & 54,000 Americans (a

significant amount considering the short time period of the war)

Stalemate

Post War in North Korea

Kim Il Sung promotes collective farms

Development of nuclear weapons

Economic problems of shortages of food & energy

1996 troops enter demilitarized zone

Current issues??

Post War in South Korea

Syngman Rhee (disputes over election results) but backed by U.S.

South Korea prospers from U.S. aid 1960s develops industry & trade 1980-90s one of highest economic

growth rates U.S. maintains ~40,000 troops here