The Korean War
Download
Report
Transcript The Korean War
The Korean War
The Forgotten War
1950 – 1953
Early Origins
1910-1945 Korea was
ruled by Japan
After WWII it was divided
into North & South Korea
By 1949, the U.S. began
withdrawing troops while
the Soviets increased
supplies to North Korea to
aid the invasion of South
Korea
War Begins
June 25, 1950 North
Korea invades the
South
Truman fears
repeating
“appeasement” &
demands support for
containment
*1st armed
confrontation of the
Cold War
Role of the United Nations
South Korea asks the U.N. for assistance
Due to the Soviet boycott & the position of
China with Nationalist Taiwan, the Security
Council agrees to help
The U.N. sends 15 nations (including the U.S.,
Britain & Canada)
Troops are led by General Douglas MacArthur
US & UN Pushed to Pusan
Korean War
By Sept 1950, the North controls
the entire Korean peninsula
except for Pusan
MacArthur designs an attack at
Inchon where the South
Koreans force half of the North
Koreans to surrender & the rest
to retreat (by attacking from
Pusan in both directions)
Inchon is risky but successful &
the South recaptures its capital
at Seoul
U.N. & U.S. Push to China
China’s Involvement
U.N. troops continue to push
north to the Yalu River (border of
China)
China has warned that if the Yalu
is breached, it will react [China is
worried of U.S. influence in Asia]
Oct 1950 the Chinese enter & this
becomes a war between China &
the U.S.
The Chinese push troops South &
recapture Seoul
Chinese unexpected entry turns
the tide of the war
General MacArthur
MacArthur threatens the use
of the atomic bomb (but
Truman disagrees)
MacArthur goes to Congress
(behind Truman’s back) >
fired for disobedience
*[Despite the fact that the
U.S. enters the war without
a declaration of war by
Congress]
M*A*S*H*
Mobile Army Surgical
Hospital
*1st used in the Korean
War
Greatly reduced the
casualties of war
Books, movie & TV series
based on MASH units
End of the War
By 1952, the U.N. has Seoul & South Korea
A stalemate ensues (see-saw fighting) & by
July 1953, a cease-fire is signed
Division remains at the 38th parallel
Approximately 5 million die in this war
4 million Koreans & 54,000 Americans (a
significant amount considering the short time
period of the war)
Stalemate
Post War in North Korea
Kim Il Sung promotes
collective farms
Development of nuclear
weapons
Economic problems of
shortages of food &
energy
1996 troops enter
demilitarized zone
Current issues??
Post War in South Korea
Syngman Rhee (disputes over election
results) but backed by U.S.
South Korea prospers from U.S. aid
1960s develops industry & trade
1980-90s one of highest economic
growth rates
U.S. maintains ~40,000 troops here