Korea Flashcards
(14 cards)
(Background) What was the situation in the Cold War by 1950?
- Situation in E.Europe
- China
- Arms Race
- US Intelligence
Most of Eastern Europe had fallen to Communism and was under the influence of the USSR through Cominform (his network).
China became Communist in 1949. China had always been USA’s strongest ally in the Far East. Between 1946 and 1949, they gave billions of dollars of aid to the Nationalist Government in China, largely to prevent a Communist takeover. It failed.
In 1949, Stalin announced that the USSR had developed its own atomic bomb.
American spies reported to President Truman that Stalin was using his network (Cominform) to help Communists win power in Malaya, Indonesia, Burma, the Philippines and Korea.
What was the significance of Korea?
Korea had previously been under Japanese control. At the end of WW2, the North was liberated by the USSR and the South was liberated by the US. Korea was divided into two zones, with the North being communist (Leader = Kim Il Sung) and part of the Soviet Sphere of Influence, and the South being Anticommunist (Leader = Syngman Rhee).
In a way, they symbolised the two sides and their proximity would test the US policy of containment.
When does North Korea invade South Korea?
In JUNE 1950, North Korean troops cross 38th parallel and push S.Korea to PUSAN.
What’s the UN meeting called and when does it happen?
UN Resolution 84 is passed on JULY 7TH 1950. (This is 10 days after 83 which was 2 days after 82)
Why was UN Resolution 84 passed?
- US placed pressure on UN, used its influence as largest contributor to the UN budget
- USSR not present to use its veto, after boycotting the UN for its refusal to allow China in (communist in 1949)
Timeline 1950-53 Korean War:
Sept 1950 (to October) : UN forces advance + Ichon seabourne attack (lead by MacArthur) into communist territory. Meanwhile, UN forces break out of the perimeter + head northwards past 38th Parallel.
Oct 1950: UN forces pressed on (Americans did not stop after reaching the original border - beyond policies of containment & Domino Theory - and the UN approved that they would continue to advance into the border with China, despite warnings that if they did, China would join) and Pyongyang captured (capital) + N.Korea forced up to border with China at Yalu river
Nov 1950: UN forces retreated*(China was worried, and launched a counter-attack, pushing the UN back - MacArthur underestimated the power of the Chinese, who were equipped with modern planes and tanks supplied from the USSR. The conditions of American troops were horrific.)
Early 1951: Seoul captured by Communists. UN lines stabilised along the 37th Parallel in mid-January.
March 1951: UN counter attacks. Seoul retaken by the UN.
July 1951: UN counter attacks push N.Koreans and Chinese forces to 38th Parallel.
April 1951: US General MacArthur is sacked after using Nuclear Weapons against China against Truman’s orders. Replaced by Ridgeway.
July 1951 -> July 1953 Negotiations began in Panmunjom and lasted for two years. Meanwhile fighting continues.
1952: Truman replaced by Eisenhower (who wanted to end war)
April 1953: Peace talks began
July 1953: Armistice
MacArthur’s role:
MacArthur was the chief of the UN task force sent to Korea during the Korean War which lasted from 1950-1953
He made decisions about the movement of UN troops
His position as General of UN troops in Korea lasted from 1950 - April 1951
MacArthur’s events:
He initially sent troops to defend the area around Pusan from further invasion from North Korean Forces that had pushed South Korea from the 38th Parallel to a small region of Pusan into the south-eastern corner of Korea.
By September 1950, he launched a successful surprise offensive at Ichon where the UN landed its naval + airbourne force.
Seoul was recaptured
By October 1950, the UN had driven the North Korean army behind the 38th parallel
MacArthur continued to push the North Koreans back, against the threat that China may join the war, confident they wouldn’t attack.
MacArthur and his troops were pushed back into South Korea by the Chinese and N.Korean troops.
MacArthur’s dispute + dismissal with Truman
- When MacArthur chose to continue the offensive past the 38th parallel, this was viewed as a controversial decision. Especially since Truman disagreed, intending to sign a ceasefire along the 38th parallel. As it turned out, the failure of this decision (with the combined forces of the Chinese and North Korean armies pushing the UN forces back past the 38th parallel) placed him in a compromising position.
- In March 1951 MacA IGNORED UN instruction not to attack China by openly threatening them. Truman saw this as ignoring his authority and removed MacArthur from his position.
Truman fired MacArthur on April 11th, 1951, after disobeying his direct orders, overstepping from his position, and making ending the Korean War quickly impossible. However, MacArthur was popular in the US and his sacking was seen as unfair by the public.
MacArthur’s strategy:
Whilst Truman thought that maintaining South Korea’s anticommunism was enough,
MacArthur wanted to unite Korea
MacArthur wanted to remove all communism from Korea (no North Korea)
He was prepared to use nuclear weapons if necessary
His strategies involved aggressive military action
Korean war ending (timeline)
The fighting reached a stalemate (no one making progress/stuck) in mid 1951
The fighting was stuck around the 38th parallel
Peace talks began in June 1951 between N & S Korea.
BUT fighting continued for another TWO years.
1952: Truman replaced by Eisenhower as President.
1953: Stalin (USSR) died. Undermined the confidence of N Korea and China.
ARMISTICE signed (peace treaty signed) July 1953.
BORDER: the same as it had been in June 1950.
What were the downsides of the Korean War?
Although S Korea did not become communist, the Korean War helped to strengthen N Korea’s links with China. Eventually a hardline communist dictatorship was established
Costs and casualties were high for the US. They suffered significant setbacks when the combined N Korean and Chinese forces advanced pushing the UN forces back into S Korea.
Divisions and tension within the US in policy-making
= there was a clear divide in the debates about Korea between “hardliners” wanting to take a more aggressive stance against communism and the moderates who were more committed to containment.
What were the successes for the US? (Korean War)
South Korea did not become communist, suggesting containment under the Truman Doctrine
The border between N Korea and S Korea remained broadly on the 38th parallel, so no significant advance by the communists
The more moderate approach prevailed in the US and they felt they had avoided a larger conflict involving China and the USSR
What methods of containment became the focus of US policy post-Korea? p106
- Alliances with anti-communist countries
SEATO: South East Asia - defensive alliance in SE Asia
CENTO: Central Asia and the Middle East
USA actions: USA created these two alliances with anti-communist countries - gave money, advice & arms to these allies, in return, leaders suppressed communism
USSR reaction: saw the US actions as aggressive. Set up the Warsaw Pact in 1955 - alternative to NATO, included USSR and all communist countries except Yugoslavia - Development of more advanced nuclear missiles (the “arms race”)
The USSR and the USA enter into an “arms race” to build the most technologically advanced nuclear weapons, to intimidate and to threaten the other side of the Cold War. They also work to place those weapons on sites that are strategically important. These weapons include ICBMs and MRBMs.
