1. The Cold War goes Global: The Korean War And NSC-68

2. Who were the key players of the Korean War?
Kim Il Sung
Syngman Rhee
Chairman Mao
Josef Stalin
Harry Truman
Douglas MacArthur

3. Prelude to the Forgotten War
After WWII the U.S. demobilized their armed forces…WHY?
Defense budget was lowered from $82 billion to approximately 13 billion
At the end of WWII the US had 12 million enlisted men, by the time Korea began the US had less then 2 million active duty soldiers
China fell to Communism in 1949, the same year the Soviets get their A Bomb

4. Background to the Korean War
Japan annexed Korea in 1910
The USSR and USA decided that Korea would be split into two countries along the 38th parallel
This was suppose to be a temporary change (similar to Germany)
Soviets left N. Korea in ‘48 and the USA left S. Korea in ‘49

5. The First “Hot War”
On June 25, 1950 North Korea invades South Korea in the hopes of unifying the peninsula under Communist rule
South Korean forces were pushed all the way down to Pusan
After a UN resolution 15 countries came to the aid of South Korea (USSR boycotted the vote which could have vetoed any UN action)
Major turning point: MacArthur’s amphibious assault at Inchon

6. Changing policies
After MacArthur's success at Inchon, it was decided that the US would “rollback” North Korea from communist rule
This strategy would end once UN forces reached the Yalu River where 200,000 to 500,000 Chinese soldiers joined the war on behalf of the North Koreans sending UN forces into rapid retreat
Why did they become involved?
As a result Truman is forced to fire Truman for:
Disobeying Truman’s orders to stop short of the Yalu River and for engaging the Chinese after Truman ordered him not to
Making it public that the United States should use nuclear weapons against China
a. ironically Truman would eventually threaten China with nuclear weapons in order to force an armistice

7. What were the effects of the Korean War on the countries involved?
Approximately 5 million Koreans lost their lives. North Korea stayed under Communist control, while the South has become a flourishing capitalist society
China gets street credit in the region for “saving” North Korea. Origins of a rift between the USSR and China because the USSR gave minimal support to China and the N. Koreans
China
USSR
The US decided to triple its military spending (NSC-68) and presence in the region. US also builds up West Germany
USA
NATO strengthened (Greece and Turkey) , increase military, now we don’t ever leave anywhere, Treaty of San Francisco, SEATO, China condemned by the UN

8. Kim Il Sung’s Role
Both Kim Il Sung and Synghman Rhee wanted to unify the peninsula
According to Rogers, Kim annoyed Stalin until he gave his approval but warned Kim to not expect Soviet assistance

9. Stalin’s role
This is the most controversial out of all the leaders roles in Korea. Rogers believes that although Stalin wanted worldwide revolution, and was concerned about the America’s impact in Japan, he was not the orchestrator of the beginning of the Korean War.
Other historians like Gaddis and the military channel believe Stalin was the one who ordered North Korean forces into invading South Korea

10. Chairman Mao Mao was taken off guard by the invasion of South Korea.
Mao was more intent on invading Taiwan than becoming involved in this war
Mao becomes involved after he becomes worried that the U.S. will invade Communist China