1. The United Nations Campaign
Learning Objectives:
To understand how the UN fought back against North Korea.
To be aware of the events of the Inchon Landings.

2. ? The Korean War – a recap The North Invade 1945 – The End of WW2
1950 – The Cold War
Japan had controlled Korea during WW2, but were forced to leave in 1945.
The USA invaded from the south, and communist forces backed by Russia from the North. The country was split into North and South Korea.
By 1950 the Cold War was underway.
Communist Russia (USSR) and China put Kim Il Sung in control of North Korea.
The USA used the Truman Doctrine and Domino Theory to justify putting a pro American leader Syngman Rhee in control of South Korea.
In June 1950 Communist North Korean forces led by Kim Il Sung invaded the South and quickly surrounded the forces of Syngman Rhee within the Pusan Perimeter.
South Korea then asked the United Nations for help. ?

3. Thinking Time
North Korea had successfully invaded most of South Korea by September 1950.
The United Nations decided to take military action.
What types of military action could the UN take?
What would be the positives and/or negatives of each type of action?
Think – Pair - Share

4. The UN Responds
The South Korean army had retreated behind the Pusan Perimeter in the South East corner of the country.
After the UN resolution, the South Korean soldiers, and those from other countries would fight as UN Command (UNC) soldiers.
Immediately the USA and UK sent warships to the region.
They blockaded North Korea to stop ships entering and leaving.
The North Korean navy was too small to fight back against large ships such as aircraft carriers.

5. The UN Responds UNC soldiers came from many countries.
The largest group were from South Korea.
The USA sent by far the most outside troops.
Others came from the UK, Australia, Canada and other European countries such as Turkey and France.
The USA sent soldiers to Pusan.
They stopped North Korea from advancing any further.
High-quality US weapons and tanks helped stop the powerful North Korean T-34 tanks.

6. Fightback: Inchon
The UNC aim was to push North Korea out of South Korea.
The man in charge of this was an American, General Douglas MacArthur.
He had been one of the top generals in WWII and was very experienced.
He wanted to wipe out the North Koreans in one sudden attack to win the war.
He therefore came up with a risky plan.
The UNC would launch an amphibious attack on Inchon, the port for South Korea’s capital Seoul.

7. Fightback: Inchon
Inchon
Why do you think MacArthur wanted to attack at Inchon and not from the Pusan Perimeter?

8. Fightback: Inchon Attacking at Inchon was dangerous.
It was a well-protected port.
The harbour was also dangerous for ships and could only be used at high tide.
There would also have to be city fighting which is tougher than fighting in open countryside.
However MacArthur guessed the North Koreans would not expect an attack at Inchon.
If it worked, the UNC could cut the North Korea supply lines and cut off their army in the south.
If it failed, there would be no UNC troops left to retake South Korea.
The stakes were high…
Show – 16.00

9. The Inchon Landings
On 15th September 1950, UNC soldiers landed at Inchon.
The North Korean soldiers near Inchon quickly retreated to the South Korean capital Seoul.
A ferocious fight took place for the city with many civilian deaths.
The North Koreans used suicide squads to destroy US tanks.
The UNC used napalm to attack the North Koreans.
On 27th September, Seoul was captured by the UNC.
UNC soldiers also then advanced north from Pusan.
Show – 25.39
A British news report

10. The UNC Advance North Korea’s soldiers were forced to retreat.
Their supply lines were cut by the Inchon landings.
They also couldn’t compete against UNC soldiers and equipment.
150,000 North Korean soldiers were killed and 125,000 captured.
The UNC only lost 18,000 men.
It wasn’t long before the UNC soldiers had pushed the North Koreans out of South Korea.
The question now was what the UNC should do next…
Imagine you are the UNC commander General MacArthur. What would you do next?

11. Think: What might be the consequences of these UNC tactics?
The UNC Advance
MacArthur wanted to make the most of the collapse of the North Korean Army.
He now wanted to push communism out of all of Korea.
Therefore the UNC forces continued to advance beyond the 38th Parallel and into North Korea.
By November they had taken Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea.
They were now close to the Yalu River and the border with China.
Think: What might be the consequences of these UNC tactics?

12. To Finish…
Quick quiz:
Name three countries which sent troops to be in the UNC?
Who was the top UNC commander?
What name was given to the corner of Korea held by UNC soldiers?
Where did the UNC launched a surprise attack?
Which river did the UNC advance to by November 1950?

13. Activity… You will be given a copy of this map to stick in your book.
Annotate it with key facts from today’s lesson to explain how the first map turned into the second.
Here is a recap on what we have learned..
In June 1950 the communist forces of North Korea led by Kim Il Sung invaded the South.
By September 1950 South Korean forces were surrounded within the Pusan Perimeter.
The United Nations Command (UNC) appointed General Douglas MacArthur to lead a fightback against the North with UN soldiers from many countries.
MacArthur decided on a very risky surprise attack by invading at Inchon near Seoul.
Terrible fighting following the Inchon landings including suicide attacks by communist soldiers and napalm attacks by the USA/United Nations Command.
150,000 North Korean and 18,000 UNC soldiers died.
MacArthur then forced the North Korean Army right back to the Yalu River near to the border with China – he seemed close to a complete victory.