GCSE Korea Knowledge Test

Question 1

When did Korea become a protectorate of Japan?

Answer 1

1905

Question 2

Who did the Koreans fight on the same side as in WWII?

Answer 2

Japan

Question 3

What Declaration made Korea independent in 1945?

Answer 3

The Potsdam Declaration

Question 4

Who took over Japan after WWII?

Answer 4

The USA

Question 5

Which superpower had its army in Machuria after WWII?

Answer 5

The USSR

Question 6

Which European country had control in Indo-China: Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam?

Answer 6

France

Question 7

At the Potsdam Conference of 1945 Korea was taken from Japan and divided into two. What was the dividing line?

Answer 7

The 38th Parallel

Question 8

How much of the world’s gold reserve did the USA have in 1945?

Answer 8

Two-thirds

Question 9

How many warships did the USA have in 1945?

Answer 9

1200

Question 10

How many Long range B-29 bombers did the USA have in 1945?

Answer 10

1000

Question 11

The RoK was formed in South Korea in 1948. What does RoK stand for?

Answer 11

Republic of Korea

Question 12

The DPRK was formed in North Korea in 1948. What does DPRK stand for?

Answer 12

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Question 13

Why did the USA distrust the USSR by the 1949?

Answer 13

USSR had taken over many Eastern European countries

Question 14

How much had the US given Chiang Kai-Shek to sop the Communists in China?

Answer 14

$2 billion

Question 15

Once Kai-Shek had lost to the Communists in 1949 where did he have to flee to?

Answer 15

Formosa/Taiwan

Question 16

What was the Truman Doctrine?

Answer 16

The US policy to contain (stop the spread) of communism - containment.

Question 17

Who was the communist leader of China?

Answer 17

Mao Zedong

Question 18

Who was the leader of DPRK after it was set up in 1949?

Answer 18

Kim II Sung

Question 19

How many communist sympathisers lived in the south?

Answer 19

200,000

Question 20

Who was the leader of the RoK after it was set up in August 1948?

Answer 20

Syngman Rhee

Question 21

Why did Stalin agree to help the DPRK after 1949?

Answer 21

China had become communist and he wanted to show Mao who was in charge or he wanted to get his own back for the failed Berlin Blockade

Question 22

How many pieces of artillery did Stalin give the DPRK in 1950?

Answer 22

1600

Question 23

How many T-34 tanks did Stalin give the DPRK in 1950?

Answer 23

258

Question 24

How many military aircraft did Stalin give the DPRK in 1950?

Answer 24

178

Question 25

Why did China get involved with Korea in November 1950?

Answer 25

Pressure from Stalin

Question 26

What did Truman send to Korean waters following the North's invasion of the South?

Answer 26

Warships and advisors

Question 27

Why was the USSR boycotting the Security Council of the Un in 1950?

Answer 27

UN had failed to recognise Communist takeover of China

Question 28

How did the absence of the USSR allow the USA to persuade the UN to get involved in Korea?

Answer 28

The USSR couldn’t veto UN involvement

Question 29

What city did the DPRK capture on June 28th 1950?

Answer 29

South capital city, Seoul

Question 30

Which south-eastern region had the forces of the RoK retreated to by August 1950?

Answer 30

Pusan

Question 31

Where had Chinese troops assembled ready for an invasion by August 1950?

Answer 31

Manchuria

Question 32

How many states had agreed to help the UN provide military, economic and medical aid to South Korea?

Answer 32

29

Question 33

Who was put in charge of the UN troops?

Answer 33

General MacArthur

Question 34

Where did the UN troops first attack the forces of the DPRK?

Answer 34

Inchon

Question 35

By September 1950 the UN forces had pushed the DPRK troops back to the Chinese border. What river marks that border?

Answer 35

Yalu River

Question 36

In late October 1950, how many Chinese troops launched an attack against the UN?

Answer 36

200,000

Question 37

When did the UN troops lose control of Seoul?

Answer 37

January, 1951

Question 38

When did MacArthur openly threaten China with an atom bomb without President Truman's permission?

Answer 38

March, 1951

Question 39

What happened to MacArthur in April 1951?

Answer 39

Truman sacked him

Question 40

What started in June 1951?

Answer 40

Peace talks between North and South

Question 41

What was the main reason for the failure of early peace talks?

Answer 41

The exchange of prisoners

Question 42

Who died in March 1953 which helped peace talks?

Answer 42

Stalin

Question 43

Who became the new leader of the USSR in March 1953?

Answer 43

Malenkov

Question 44

Who became the new president of the USA in January 1953?

Answer 44

Eisenhower

Question 45

Where was the armistice signed in July 1953?

Answer 45

Panmunjom

Question 46

What three terms did the armistice confirm?

Answer 46

2 mile demilitarised zone either side of 38th Parallel, all forces withdraw to own territory, prisoner exchange would begin

Question 47

How many casualties did the USA have during the Korean War?

Answer 47

30,00 died and 100,000 wounded

Question 48

How much did US defence spending increase during the Korean War?

Answer 48

$48 billion from $12-$60 billion

Question 49

What % of GDP did the US spend on the Korean War?

Answer 49

14%

Question 50

What did the USA set up in 1954 to stop the spread of Communism in SE Asia?

Answer 50

SEATO (South East Asia treaty Organisation)

Question 51

How big was the buffer zone on its own borders gained by China?

Answer 51

300KM

Question 52

How many deaths did the Chinese suffer in the Korean War?

Answer 52

900,000

Question 53

What did the RoK sign with the USA in 1953?

Answer 53

The Mutual Defence Treaty

Question 54

How many Koreans were casualties of the War?

Answer 54

2.5 million

Question 55

What percentage of Korean civilians died in the war?

Answer 55

10%

Question 56

How many homes were destroyed in the Korean war?

Answer 56

600,000

Question 57

How many South Koreans were captured by the North?

Answer 57

80,000

Question 58

What did the USSR have to increase spending on as a result of events in Korea?

Answer 58

Arms production