Background to The Korean War

1910 - 1945

• Korea used to have some of Asia's most prominent communist groups and activists

• These organizations worked underground to reestablish Korea's independence during Japan's occupation of the Korean Peninsula (1910-1945)

 

Occupation• In 1945 Korea was occupied

by Soviet forces in the north and American forces in the south.

• The line that was chosen to separate the two was the same one that Japan and Russia used in the early part of the 20th century.

• It was called the 38th parallel.

Kim II Sung• 33-year-old, soviet army

captain, Kim II Sung became known to be a heroic guerrilla commander.

• In early 1946, Soviet occupying forces chose him to head the provisional government for North Korea.

• 3 weeks after the Southern Republic of Korea was made, Kim Il Sung was named premier of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on September 9th 1948.

North Korea under Kim Il SungKim didn't want a Soviet satellite state and instead embraced Korean nationalism. The focus of which was the Korean People’s Army. Under Kim's rule:

•Over 2 million acres of land were redistributed in under a month •Women were guaranteed equality under the law •Political action cells were formed to educate the population

In June of 1949 both the Soviets and Americans left the peninsula, this is when Kim's plan to unite Korea became evident.

On the Brink of War• South Korea obviously appeared

to be faltering, but President Syngman Rhee (South Korea) unleashed a brutal campaign against suspected communists and leftists.

• At first Kim wanted to use force, however he needed support and so he turned to Stalin for help.

• Stalin supported his invasion plan, and advised him to get support from China’s new communist leader, Mao Zedong. He did and was now on the brink of war.

Stage One: The North Attacks• On 25 June 1950 North Korean

troops invaded South Korea.• They cross the 38th parallel and

surround the capital Seoul.• The South Korean Army

retreated to Pusan.

Why get involved in Korea?

By supporting North Korea we have an opportunity to

confront the west and expand communism without endangering Soviet troops!

After Berlin we need a win!

By supporting South Korea we can prevent the spread

of communism through Asia. South Korea will not

the next Domino to fall!

This map is from an American magazine from 1950. This shows how much the US feared communism in the far east.

United Nations• The United Nations now had to formulate a

plan. Sixteen member states would provide troops under a United Nations Joint Command. It would fight with the South Korean army.

• This United Nations force was dominated by America even to the extent of being commanded by an American general – Douglas MacArthur

Stage Two: The U.N. forces attack• In September 1950 300,000 U.N.

troops landed at Inchon.• 260,000 of them were American.• They effectively cut Korea in two.• The North Koreans retreated

north of the 38th Parallel rather than be completely cut off.

• Over 125,000 North Korean prisoners were taken.

• General MacArthur boasted the U.S. troops would be “Home by Christmas”

Why did China enter the war?• The U.N. forces crossed the

38th parallel and invaded North Korea.

• General MacArthur planned to ‘liberate’ North Korea from communism.

• He took the troops to the Yalu River. This was on the Chinese border.

• Mao had already stated that he would not tolerate American imperialist troops on its borders.

Stage Three: Chinese victories• On the 25th of November 200,000

Chinese soldiers attacked the U.N. troops.

• They had modern Soviet weapons and a fanatical hatred of America.

• On 31 December another 600,000 Chinese soldiers joined the conflict.

• They inflicted heavy casualties and drove the U.N. troops south of the 38th Parallel.

MacArthur’s advice: September 1950

1. Make the ultimate aim of the war the defeat of Communist China.

2. Attack the Chinese mainland to cut off supplies to the communists in North Korea.

3. Consider using atomic bombs against China.

Stage Four: Back to the beginning!• The Americans landed more

troops and pushed the North Koreans back across the border.

• President Truman abandoned any plans of invading North Korea.

• He ordered troops to stop advancing and considered making peace with China.

• MacArthur criticised this decision in a press conference.

• Truman fired him.

A slow, agonising march to peace.• By April 1951 the two sides had

reached a stalemate.• 200,000 Chinese soldiers died in an

unsuccessful push south during April and May.

• Peace talks began in July 1951 but no cease –fire was agreed to.

• Between the beginning of peace talks and November 1952 over 45,000 U.S. troops were killed or wounded.

President Eisenhower• General Eisenhower had been

in command of the D-Day invasion.

• As a Presidential candidate he promised to bring an end to the Korean War.

• He took power in January, 1953. A formal cease-fire was signed in July.

• 10 Million people had died in the Korean War – as many as World War One

Armistice – Not a Peace Treaty

• There was an armistice signed by North Korea, China, and the UN but not by South Korea.

• The armistice was NOT a peace treaty, just a temporary cessation of hostilities.

• Korea is still split up into North Korea (communist) and South Korea (non-communist)

• The border between the two countries has remained one of the most heavily-armed stretches of land on Earth