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The Korean War
Question
• What happened to Korea after WWII?
Korea
• Japan had ruled Korea since 1910. With the
end of WWII, the Japanese surrendered
control of Korea to the Allied Powers.
• Japanese troops north of the 38th parallel
surrendered to Soviet troops.
• South of the 38th parallel, Japanese troops
surrendered to American troops.
• Two nations developed: One Communist and
one Democratic.
Korea
• South of the 38th parallel, the Republic of
Korea is established in 1948. (South Korea)
Korea
• Syngman RheePresident of the
Republic of Korea
1948-1960.
• Anti-Communist
Korea
• 1948- The Democratic People’s Republic of
Korea is formed. (North Korea)
Korea
• Kim Il Sung- Leader
of the Democratic
People’s Republic of
Korea from 19481994.
• Communist
Korea
• With the support of the
Soviet Union and the
Chinese, the North
Koreans invaded South
Korea on June 25th, 1950
in an attempt to reunify
the country under
communist rule.
Summarize
• In your own words, summarize what
happened to Korea after WWII.
Question
• What were the causes of the Korean
War?
Domino Theory
Domino Theory
• The Domino Theory was the belief that if one
country or region fell under the influence of
communism, other countries in the area
would soon become communist as well.
• Domino Theory was used to justify U.S.
intervention around the world through the
1980s in order to prevent the spread of
communism.
China
• In 1949, the Chinese Communists forced the
Chinese Nationalists to the island of Formosa
(Taiwan).
• China, the most populated country in the
world had fallen to communism.
Domino Theory
• It was believed that if Korea fell completely to
communism, other countries in the area
would soon follow.
• The US had important trading partners in the
area, especially Japan, who they did not want
falling under communist control.
Soviet Support
• Stalin wanted to see Communism expand, as
long as it did not force a direct conflict with
the United States.
• The Soviet Union provided economic and
military aid to North Korea.
• Elite Soviet fighter pilots flew combat missions
during the Korean War, though there were few
and faced certain self-imposed restrictions.
NSC- 68
• April, 1950
• The US National Security Council issued a
report recommending that the US move from
“containment” policy and start actively
“rolling back” communism.
• Korea provided that opportunity.
Proxy War
• Both the United States and the Soviet Union
did not want to get involved in a “hot” war
with each other.
• The war in Korea provided an opportunity for
the US to fight communism and the USSR to
spread communism, without the two
superpowers coming into direct conflict.
Korean Unification
• The failure to have free elections throughout
Korea in 1948 heightened tensions between
the two sides.
• The Soviets and North Koreans did not think
the United States would get involved in the
Korean war.
• North Korea then attempted to reunify the
country by force.
Summarize
• In your own words, summarize what caused
the Korean War.
Question
• How was the war fought in Korea?
The Korean War
• On June 25th, 1950, North Korea launched a
surprise attack across the 38th parallel and into
South Korea.
• The U.N. Security Council responded quickly,
authorizing the use of force against North
Korea.
• June 27th, 1950- Truman ordered troops
stationed in Japan to support the South
Koreans.
The Korean War
• 16 Countries sent roughly 520,000 troops to
aid South Korea. Over 90% were American.
• South Korea had 590,000 soldiers
• The combined force was placed under the
command of General Douglas MacArthur.
The Korean War
• June 1950- North Korean Troops capture the
capital of South Korea, Seoul.
• September 1950- North Korean Troops push
South Korean and UN forces to the southeast
corner of Korea.
The Korean War
• Sept. to Oct. 1950- UN troops under
MacArthur land at Inchon and move north
from Pusan. This two-pronged attack drives
the North Koreans out of South Korea. UN
troops continue into North Korea all the way
to the Yalu River.
China Intervenes
• Nov. 1950 to Jan. 1951- The Chinese intervene
and force the UN troops back across the 38th
parallel.
China Intervenes
• China had warned that they would act if the
Americans came to their border.
• 300,000 Chinese troops joined the war on the
side of North Korea.
• China wanted Korea as a buffer zone to
protect their northeastern provinces.
The Korean War
• The war had become a stalemate.
• MacArthur called for an extension of the war
into China.
• Truman rejected the request.
• By April, 1951, the UN and South Korean
forces had retaken Seoul and moved back up
to the 38th parallel.
The Korean War
• MacArthur continued to criticize the
President, which eventually got him fired.
• Truce talks began in July 1951.
• In July 1953, the two sides signed an armistice
ending the conflict.
• The war had cost America 54,000 troops and
$67 billion in expenditures.
Summarize
• In your own words, summarize how the
Korean war was fought.