The Korean War

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 ( )

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.

BACKGROUND At the close of World War II (1945), The Soviet Union occupied Korea north of the 38 th parallel and the United States occupied Korea south of the 38 th parallel The Soviets imposed a communist government  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)  Led by Kim Il Sung  Pyongyang as capital The United States put in place a nationalist/capitalist democracy  Republic of Korea (ROK)  Led by Syngman Rhee  Seoul as capital

BACKGROUND Originally, the intention of the U.S. and Soviet Union was to establish a stable unified Korea and to withdraw their military forces, however Cold War tensions caused events to play out differently The U.S. reduced its troop levels in South Korea to 500 troops by June 1949 The Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin, concluded that the U.S. would not be willing to fight to defend South Korea On January 30, 1950, Stalin via telegram notified Kim Il Sung that he was willing to help unify Korea as a communist state

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, Sung was named premier of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on September 9th 1948.

Progression & Economy Kim 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 It was clear that under his rule, North Korea had become economically well-endowed in comparison to South Korea. In June of 1949 both the Soviets and Americans had 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.

Leading Causes of the Korean War Reputation –American Army had recently increased tensions as far as the arms race went and Truman wanted to display the power and wealth of America internationally. –The USSR wanted better results and a chance to prove themselves after the Berlin Blockade. This was particularly important to Stalin. –They felt that the Korean war was their way of proving their reputation.

Leading Causes of the Korean War Support –The USA wanted to support Syngman Rhee because he was a democrat surrounded by communism –USA: supported South Korea. –The USSR wanted to support the communist nation, because of the same political ideals. –USSR: supported North Korea. –They could not get involved in a war against communism without directly fighting the USSR.

Leading Causes of the Korean War Cold War –Stalin encouraged the spread of communism as long as it did not result in a war with America. He soon realized that nuclear war might be a possibility and wanted to avoid that and beat the USA using more indirect means. –The Domino Effect - Truman believed that if Korea fell to communism, Japan (a major trading partner) would follow. –The Truman Doctrine stated that the USA would lend aid to any country not wishing to be suppressed by the political ideals (communism) of any other country. –April 1950 the American National Security Council issued a report recommending direct involvement (a proxy war) against communism. –Stalin saw that the Korean War Was a chance for a war by proxy. Kim II Sung visited Stalin to persuade him that he could conquer South Korea.

This map is from an American magazine from 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. On September 15th 1950, United Nations troops landed at Inchon. The landing was a huge success and the United Nations effectively cut the North Korean army in half and pushed them out of South Korea.

U.N. Forces General Douglas MacArthur was placed in command of the U.N. forces, which included combat and medical units from 22 nations The United States provided 50% of the ground forces, 86% of the naval forces and 93% of the air power for the U.N. forces. (South Korea provided most of the remainder)

Soviet Union Soviets sold Chinese military equipment, including artillery and MIG fighter planes. The USSR also provided advisers and military hardware to the North Koreans. Soviet pilots flew MIGs against US planes. However, Stalin was unwilling to become involved with the United States in a war over Korea.

United States The US provided the majority of the UN military forces which drove the North Koreans out of South Korea and still stand guard along the border. The US moved their troops into South Korea quickly. The US and the Soviets agreed to divide Korea temporarily to avoid long term decisions regarding Korea's future. Although the United States took the lead in the Korean action, it did so under the order of the United Nations.

North Korea Attacks On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea marking the start of the Korean War By the evening of June 28, 1950, the South Korean capital of Seoul had fallen and ROK forces were in disarray South Korea appealed to the United Nations (U.N.) for help The U.N. Security Council called for an immediate end to hostilities and passed Resolution 82, authorizing force to be used in Korea 21 of the U.N. member states agreed to contribute arms, money and/or troops to rid South Korean of its North Korean aggressor

PUSAN PERIMETER The initial U.N. forces were unable to slow the advance of the North Korean forces and fought desperate delaying operations until more U.N. troops could arrive in South Korea By the end of July 1950, the North Koreans had contained the U.N. forces in a perimeter around the Port of Pusan (in the southeast corner of the Korean peninsula)

INCHON General MacArthur launched a offensive amphibious invasion at the Port of Inchon (near Seoul) changing the course of the war American forces quickly gained control of Inchon and recaptured Seoul within days, cutting the North Korean supply line American and ROK forces in Pusan broke out of the Pusan perimeter and pursued fleeing DPRK forces north

Push to the Yalu River Capitalizing on Secretary of Defense George Marshall’s directions which stated, “We want you to feel unhampered tactically and strategically to proceed north of the 38 th Parallel,” General MacArthur pushed U.N. forces north towards the Yalu River Ignoring evidence that Chinese forces had moved across the Yalu River into North Korea, MacArthur assured U.S. troops that they would be “home by Christmas” MacArthur further risked his forces by splitting his troops, with the X Corps advancing along the eastern coast and the Eighth Army advancing along the western coast.

Chinese offensive U.S. forces unexpectedly ran into approximately 180,000 Chinese troops. The right flank of the Eight Army (U.S.) was shattered and the X Corps (U.S.) fought a desperate struggle near the Chosin Reservoir U.N. troops were evacuated back to the Pusan perimeter and Seoul was captured by the Chinese forces On November28, 1951, a shaken MacArthur informed the Joint Chiefs of Staff that the U.N. forces faced an “entirely new war”

Why did China enter the war? UN forces pushed north to China Crossed 38th parallel –Yalu River and border with China Mao Zedong already made it clear that China would not tolerate foreign forces on border

What happens next? October 14 to November 1, 1950 –Chinese send 180,000 of the People’s Volunteer Army to cross Yalu River –They pushed the American forces back November 2 –UN realizes that the attack was done by Communist China

“Home-by-Christmas” offensive November 24 – MacArthur launches offensive attack Chinese army retaliates with full force American and South Korean units retreat Ends January 1951

Stalemate Beginning January 25, LTG General Matthew Ridgway (in command of the U.S. Eighth Army) led the U.N. forces in a slow advance northward. They inflicted heavy casualties on the Chinese and North Korean troops and recaptured Seoul Tensions increased between President Truman and General MacArthur during this period and on April 10, 1951, Truman relieved MacArthur of command. He was replaced by General Ridgway The fighting largely fell into a stalemate along the 38 th Parallel

Armistice An Armistice ending the war was signed on July 27, 1953 The Armistice provided for a suspension of open hostilities and a fixed demilitarized zone to serve as a buffer between North and South Korea that remains today In many ways the Korean War has never really ended

The Korean War Armistice Designed to insure an end to warfare and all acts of armed force in Korea until a definitive peaceful could be achieved It was signed on July 27,1953 Covered issues such as -exchange of prisoners of war - location of a demarcation line Intended as a temporary measure, but the 38 th parallel remains standing even today.

casualties Approximately 5 million people killed during the war ( ) More than 34,000 Americans killed in action More than 600,000 Chinese killed in action

Enforced by a Military Armistice Commission Armies began the awkward process of disengagement over the 4km wide DMZ. It provided…  suspension of open hostilities  fixed demarcation line with a four kilometre (2.4 mile) buffer zone - the so-called demilitarization zone  A mechanism for the transfer of prisoners of war

Map of Korea

an international conference in Geneva was organized by the United States - discussed the political future of Korea - no agreement was produced Armistice- only safeguard for peace on the Korean peninsula

After three years, July 27, ceasefire stopped the fighting Although there was no declared winner, South Korea never succumbed to a communist rule. The war cost the US more than 20 billion dollars.

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