Why was the Korean Peninsula originally separated?
After WW2 when Korea was liberated from the Japanese, the Soviet Union and the Allies agreed to jointly run the country until it could become independent.
The Soviets invaded Japanese-held Manchuria in 1945 and advanced into the north Korea. Japan surrendered the rest of Korea to the Allies.
The border between the two countries was marked, the 38th parallel.
Why was the Korean Peninsula originally separated?
After WW2 when Korea was liberated from the Japanese, the Soviet Union and the Allies agreed to jointly run the country until it could become independent.
The Soviets invaded Japanese-held Manchuria in 1945 and advanced into the north Korea. Japan surrendered the rest of Korea to the Allies.
The border between the two countries was marked, the 38th parallel.
Sides and Allies
The Korean war was fought between North Korea and South Korea. The North Korean leader was Kim II-Sung. Sung had been schooled in the Soviet Union and sought to unite the two Koreas under communism using military action . Kim II-Sung was backed by the Soviet Union who were a communist country and supported the North Koreas actions and reasoning. Kim II-Sung was chosen by Soviets to run their half of the peninsula. The People’s Republic of China soon showed their support for North Korea through their similar interest in communism.
Dr. Syngman Rhee was the leader of South Korea and sought to unite Korea under capitalism. His half of the Korean peninsula was run by the Allies of World War II. Once the North Koreans begun to invade the South the Americans and the United Nations entered the war in support of South Korea.
Both men sought to unite Korea under their own rule and as much as this was a war between the two Koreas, for the United Nations and United States it was essentially a war against communism.
The Korean war was fought between North Korea and South Korea. The North Korean leader was Kim II-Sung. Sung had been schooled in the Soviet Union and sought to unite the two Koreas under communism using military action . Kim II-Sung was backed by the Soviet Union who were a communist country and supported the North Koreas actions and reasoning. Kim II-Sung was chosen by Soviets to run their half of the peninsula. The People’s Republic of China soon showed their support for North Korea through their similar interest in communism.
Dr. Syngman Rhee was the leader of South Korea and sought to unite Korea under capitalism. His half of the Korean peninsula was run by the Allies of World War II. Once the North Koreans begun to invade the South the Americans and the United Nations entered the war in support of South Korea.
Both men sought to unite Korea under their own rule and as much as this was a war between the two Koreas, for the United Nations and United States it was essentially a war against communism.
Motivations and Justification
The Americans motivation for entering the war came from many different reasons. One of the main reasons was the Domino Theory, they believed that if the whole of the Korean peninsula became a communist country, then the political idea of communism would spread to neighbouring Asian countries. President Truman feared that Japan would be the next 'domino'. They wanted to prevent the spread of communism and protect the American political system. The final reason was that Truman had realised that the US was competing for world domination with the Soviet Union.
The Soviet Union had similar reasons for entering the war with North Korea. The Soviets wanted to spread Communism as far as they possibly could.
For the Korean leaders, it was a chance they had always wanted, to fight for the rule of the entire peninsula. Kim II-Sung invaded Korea after rumours had circulated that Syngman Rhee was planning on crossing the 38th parallel and attacking North Korea.
The Americans motivation for entering the war came from many different reasons. One of the main reasons was the Domino Theory, they believed that if the whole of the Korean peninsula became a communist country, then the political idea of communism would spread to neighbouring Asian countries. President Truman feared that Japan would be the next 'domino'. They wanted to prevent the spread of communism and protect the American political system. The final reason was that Truman had realised that the US was competing for world domination with the Soviet Union.
The Soviet Union had similar reasons for entering the war with North Korea. The Soviets wanted to spread Communism as far as they possibly could.
For the Korean leaders, it was a chance they had always wanted, to fight for the rule of the entire peninsula. Kim II-Sung invaded Korea after rumours had circulated that Syngman Rhee was planning on crossing the 38th parallel and attacking North Korea.
Military
Over the three years of the war the US sent over 5 million troops to help aid the South Korean Army. Along with this there was also a large number of serviceman from other nations, such as the UK, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, India, etc. The UN and South Korea suffered casualties of 200,000 people, including 37,000 US servicemen.
21 nations from around the world sent men and equipment to Korea, under American command.
Major Events Timeline
September, 1945
Korea is liberated from the Japanese. The Soviet Union and Allies agreed to jointly run the peninsula. The Soviets ruled the North while the United States ruled the South until 1948.
June 25, 1950
North Korean troops, unexpectedly crossed the 38th parallel on 25 June 1950 and invaded South Korea, catching them completely off guard. The South Korean army was rapidly forced back by North Korea’s Soviet backed military.
June 25, 1950
When hearing of this attack President Harry S Truman approved an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting. With the Soviet Union absent from this meeting, the vote was passed to send military support to South Korea. General Douglas McArthur was ordered to use whatever force was necessary to aid South Korea. This was the UN first official act of war.
June 28, 1950
The North Koreans conquered Seoul, the South capital. They continued to push South with the aim of conquering the whole peninsula.
September 15, 1950
McArthur planned to land at an enemy occupied port in Incheon and push their way up to Seoul. He aimed to send troops to attack three of the beaches at Inchon. Code named: Blue Beach, Green Beach and Red Beach, the troops were able to take control of all these beaches, securing control over Inchon.
September 26, 1950
With little North Korean resistance the South Koreans were able to easily continue inland. They were soon able to recapture their capital Seoul. The North Korean army was surrounded and the UN soldiers were able to push them back over the 38th parallel, into North Korea.
November 1, 1950
The UN army were rapidly closing near the Chinese border, which was a communist country This angered and scared the Chinese leader, Mao Zedong, and he ordered his army into North Korea, with an aim to crush the UN.
The Chinese Army was highly skilled, determined and used to the rugged terrain. Their numbers gave them a huge advantage. This soon lead to the United Nations retreat.
April 9, 1951
General McArthur was dismissed and replaced by Matthew Ridgeway.
August 1951
Peace talks between the United States, North Korea, South Korea and China begin, after stalemate is reached.
July 27, 1953
Korean Armistice. Almost two years after negotiations, the United States, North Korea and China sign an armistice to end fighting in Korea without an official peace treaty. Korea remains divided.
End Results
On July 27, 1953 an armistice was signed by United States, North Korea and China to end fighting in Korea without an official peace treaty. Both sides claim victory but Korea remains divided to this day.
About 150,000 soldiers from South Korea, the United States, and other U.N. nations and almost one million South Korean civilians were killed in the Korean War. An estimated 800,000 communist soldiers and more than 200,000 North Korean civilians were killed. Approximately 10% of the Korean population were killed , wounded or missing.
Korean War and the Cold War
The Korean war had a huge impact on the international politics and beginning of the Cold War. The Korean land argument between the United States and the Soviet union marked the beginning of the Cold War and was the first military action in the Cold War, the first major conflict.
The Cold War was a conflict between the two opposing political ideologies, Communism and Capitalism and this was essentially the main reason for the beginning of the Korean War.
The Domino Theory was a theory used by the United States government to justify their reason for backing non-communist countries when fighting against communist countries. The Domino Theory stated that a communist success in one nation would lead to the idea of communism spreading to neighbouring countries, like the movement of dominos.
The Korean war had a huge impact on the international politics and beginning of the Cold War. The Korean land argument between the United States and the Soviet union marked the beginning of the Cold War and was the first military action in the Cold War, the first major conflict.
The Cold War was a conflict between the two opposing political ideologies, Communism and Capitalism and this was essentially the main reason for the beginning of the Korean War.
The Domino Theory was a theory used by the United States government to justify their reason for backing non-communist countries when fighting against communist countries. The Domino Theory stated that a communist success in one nation would lead to the idea of communism spreading to neighbouring countries, like the movement of dominos.
Long Term Effects
The Long Term effects of the Korean War was the long term division of Korea, which is still separated to this day.
Today North Korea is an isolated communist country and South Korea is a capitalist country. Although both countries have signed an armistice, they are still technically at war.
The Korean War was an example of the Cold War becoming global. Why was this important?
The Korean War was the first major conflict of the Cold War. The Cold War was fought mainly between the Soviet Union and America, or Communism and Capitalism. The Domino Theory was a theory, used by the United States, that stated that a communist success in one nation would lead to the idea of communism spreading to neighbouring countries. The US wanted to prevent this from happening , as you can see in the the Korean War. If Korea became a communist country, then it was feared that the idea would soon spread throughout Asia. This was the reason that caused the United States and United Nations to enter the Korean War. It was when the United Nations became involved that the Korean War marked the beginning of the Cold War spreading across the globe. |
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