The Korean War, 1950-53
Course: North Korean invasion
An initial push by the North Koreans resulted in them capturing almost the entire Korean peninsula apart from a small pocket of land in the South-East around the city of Pusan.
Cause: The Role of Kim Il Sung
Both Kim Il Sung and Synghman Rhee wanted to reunify Korea on their own terms. However neither side could unify Korea on their own. Kim Il Sung persistently tried to persuade Stalin into supporting an attack on the South, in which he eventually agreed. Stalin wasn't to blame for the war although his support for Kim Il Sung was significant in the North's decision-making.
Consequence: China
China's reputation grew after the War, having successfully pushed back US forces. This increased Mao Zedong's reputation and helped him to consolidate the Communist revolution in China. Stalin's reluctance to help China throughout the War contributed to the division between the two powers, with China taking a more independent stance from Moscow. However Mao's aim of uniting Taiwan with China became harder as the USA now committed itself to defending Taiwan.
Course: Chinese-counter attack
Despite warnings from the Chinese, MacArthur pushed on to the border with China at the Yalu River. On 27th November 1950, over 200,000 Chinese and 150,000 North Korean troops counter-attacked, pushing UN forces into retreat. By December 1950, Pyongyang and all of North Korea was recaptured. UN forces suffered heavy casualties.
Cause: The Role of the USA
Having now divided the Korean peninsula, both superpowers began to withdraw their troops. Soviet troops left the North in 1948 whilst US troops left by mid-1949. In Dean Acheson's 'perimeter' speech of January 1950, the US declared that they wouldn't commit troops in mainland Asia. This withdrawal of troops left a power vacuum in Korea, in which hostilities between the two Koreas' could develop. The withdraw of US troops presented Kim Il Sung with an opportunity.
Cause: Failure to unite Korea after WW2
In 1945 it was agreed by the superpowers to temporarily divide Korea along the 38th parallel In December 1945, the USA and USSR agreed to create a provisional government in Korea, leading eventually to independence(the Moscow agreement). Despite the Moscow Agreement, separate governments emerged on either side. In the South the US appointed Syngman Rhee, an anti-communist. In the North, the USSR supported a communist faction led by Kim Il Sung.
Cause: The Role of Mao Zedong
Kim Il Sung also had the support of China. Mao was initially sceptical about the success of the invasion. However Kim persuaded Mao that Stalin was more enthusiastic then he actually was. Mao was also keen to get support from Stalin for his planned attack on Taiwan. Mao therefore gave his approval to Kim for an attempted invasion of the South. Both Stalin and Mao was tricked into going to war with Kim Il Sung
Course: UN counter attack
MacArthur led UN forces in a daring amphibious assault on Inchon, hoping to split North Korean forces in half. Within a month he had recaptured Seoul and driven the North Koreans back past the 38th parallel. The US then decided on a policy of 'rollback' - to cross into North Korean territory and reunite Korea. Pyongyang was captured by October
Cause: The Role of Stalin
Stalin eventually supported plans for a war at the beginning of 1950. This may have been because he was more hopeful of winning, because of Acheson's 'perimeter' speech Stalin though he could have a quick victory. The Communist victory in China and the development of their first atomic bomb in 1949 may have persuaded Stalin to act. The development of an anti-communist Japan by the USA also threatened Stalin's control in the region. A successful invasion of South Korea thus presented Stalin with a tempting
Cause: Failure to unite Korea after WW2 pt.2
The Americans persuaded the UN to establish a commission to supervise Korean elections. It was refused entry to the North but observed a separate election in the South in May 1948. The Republic of Korea (ROK) was set-up in the South led by Synghman Rhee. It was undemocratic and anti-communist but recognised as legitimate by the UN General Assembly. In response the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was founded in the North by Kim Il Sung in September 1948. It was recognised by the Communist Bloc. Creating two hostile states Each claimed to represent all of Korea and each leader wanted to unify Korea.
Consequence: Cold War
The Korean War effectively globalised the Cold War. It was no longer just a European conflict but a global conflict which would also affect other parts of the developing world. It also led to increasing militarisation. Both sides increased their military budgets, with the USA's military budget reaching 10% of GNP in the 1950s. The USSR increased the size of the Red Army from 2.8 million troops to 5.8 million!
Consequence: USA
The Korean War heightened US fears of further Soviet aggression elsewhere, therefore the NSC-68 recommendations to triple the defence budget were approved. US land forces in Europe were strengthened along with NATO which added Greece, Turkey and eventually West Germany as members. The war served as catalyst for these policies The USA signed the Treaty of San Francisco with Japan in 1952. This allowed the US to build military bases in Japan and the US began to rapidly rebuild the Japanese economy. The US also began increasing its support for Chiang Kai-shek in Taiwan, whilst continuing to isolate China. The South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) was created in 1954 as an anti-communist containment bloc. Members included Thailand, Philippines, Pakistan, USA, UK, France, Australia and New Zealand.
What was the Korean War
The Korean War started on 25th June 1950 when over 90,000 North Korean soldiers launched an invasion of South Korea. It occurred during a time of debate over the future course of US foreign policy. Many in Washington advocated a massive re-armament programme to confront Communism globally, as seen in NSC-68. President Truman realised that a failure to take action would undermine the credibility of the US policy of containment.
Consequence: South-East Asia
The Korean War was an attempt by the USA to contain Communism in Asia. Asia was now a new battleground in the Cold War. Many nationalist groups in countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and the Philippines all sought independence from Colonial powers. Some of these movements were Communist and increasingly relied in the USSR or China for support. US policies increasingly confused these national communist groups as being allied with Moscow. This would eventually lead to the USA's involvement in Vietnam.
Consequence: USSR
The USSR was not directly involved in the Korean War however it did give tacit consent to North Korea. In the long-term, the outcome of the War damaged Soviet interests. The USA's decision to triple its military spending, rearm West German, maintain troops in Europe and contain Communism in Asia drew the USSR into a wider, global conflict. This would stretch Soviet commitments throughout the world, harming their economy.
Consequence: Korea
The war had cost the lives of over 300,000 civilians and property damage was huge. The peninsula became permanently divided with no hope of reunification. The 38th Parallel became a new heavily defended frontier in the Cold War that exists even today. North Korea remains under Communist rule whilst South Korea became a successful democratic and capitalist nation.
Course: Stalemate
The war quickly descended into stalemate along the 38th parallel. Truman decided to revert to a policy of 'containment'. MacArthur disagreed and even threatened the use of atomic bombs against China. He was then fired by Truman Peace talks began in 1951 but war continued until 1953 when an armistice was signed at Panmunjom in July.
