1. The Korean “Police Action”
Kim Il-Sung
Syngman Rhee
“Domino Theory”

2. Origins of the Korean War (1945–1950)
US and USSR divide former Japanese colony (1945) and set up competing regimes
Park (South) and Kim (North) each want to reunify Korea; constant skirmishes at 38th
When N. Korea invades S. Korea (1950), Truman assumes Stalin masterminds attack, but much of the initiative is with Kim (civil nature of war) 16

3. Origins of the Korean War (cont.)
Stalin interested because he fears recovering Japan, and hopes for fast win before US could respond
Truman orders US troops from Japan into Korea 17

5. THE COST IN HUMAN LIFE

6.  Starter activity
Pin the tail on Korea!

7. What did the cartoonist mean by the ‘domino effect’?
Causes of the conflict
Tensions between USA & USSR extended around world
New Communist govts. In China & other Asian countries
Conflict between capitalism in south and Communism in north
Domino effect
What did the cartoonist mean by the ‘domino effect’?

9.  Plenary
Cartoon by British artist, David Low. During the Korean War, critics said that the USA simply pulled the strings of the UN like a puppet. How does the cartoon support this view?