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Jakub Basista, PhD, DLitt
Institute of History
Jagiellonian University
COLD WAR 2015/2016
Meeting 6 Lecture Notes
Developments in South East Asia: War in Korea 1950-53.
Synopsis
By late 1940s the US Department of State was ready to pull US forced out of Asia, with one
exception – occupied Japan. In particular US troops were to be withdrawn from Korea, which
was to be united after elections, as well as help was not to be given to Nationalist leader of
China Chiang Kai-shek, who was not seen as an important and worth backing alternative to
Mao Zetong, who has taken over power in continental China.
These wrong calculations were verified, when a Chinese (and Soviet) backed North Korean
armies poured into South Korea in an attempt to unite the whole country under Communist
rule.
The United Nations Security Council reacted immediately authorizing international
community to come to South Korea’s aid. Such a decision was possible due to Soviet boycott
of the UN (as a protest against not accepting Mao’s Chine into the UN). In effect a war
followed of a UN led coalition (effectively South Korean and US troops) against North
Koreans backed by a huge contingent from China.
1945
Korea divided into North (NK) and South (SK) at the 38th parallel.
1947
14 November UN resolution concerning elections in Korea (Soviets do not use their veto
power, but boycott the meeting and ignore the resolution). The idea of the resolution was to
create a united Korean government and withdrawal of foreign forces.
1948
January
Soviet Union forbids UN officials to oversee elections in the north
May
sporadic clashes along the border between troops of both Koreas
13 August
Rhee Syngman takes over power from US troops and the Republic of Korea is
formed
9 September Democratic People's Republic of Korea is declared with capital in Pyongyang
under Kim Il Sung
December
UN declare Republic of Korea as the only lawfully elected government and
calls for withdrawal of all foreign forces
1948
USSR withdraws troops from the north
1949 January USA have withdrawn all forces from Korea
June
Mao Zedong announces willingness to form an alliance with USSR
July
Chinese delegation welcomed by Stalin in Moscow; Stalin’s attempts to push
China into a war against the Western powers fail
1 October
Mao Zedong announces the forming of People’s Republic of China
December
Mao Zedong visits Moscow (two months) – signing an alliance between the
two countries concerning cooperation and mutual help
12 January
US Secretary of State, Dean Acheson, announces that American “cordon
sanitaire” does not include South Korea; news about such conduct, together with intelligence
materials convince Stalin to push Kim Il Sung to act, as well as further back Ho Chi Minh’s
war in Vietnam
February
McCarthy’s accusations formulated against Soviet espionage, but also help
provided from USSR for Mao Zedong find wide reception in the USA
20 June
Acheson briefs US Congress that war is unlikely
25 June
North Korea attacks South Korea (North Korean army numbers over 135,000 +
40,000 troops supplied by China; the army is well armed with modern Soviet arms; South
Korea has an army of 95,000 poorly armed and lack of concrete support from the USA)
25 June
UNSC Resolution 82 calls for:
• all hostilities to end and North Korea to withdraw to the 38th Parallel;
• a UN Commission on Korea to be formed to monitor the situation and report to the
Security Council;
• all UN members to support the United Nations in achieving this, and refrain from
providing assistance to the North Korean authorities
The resolution was adopted by a vote of 9 support, none opposed, and one abstention.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 83, adopted on June 27, 1950, determins that
the attack on the Republic of Korea by forces from North Korea constitutes a breach of the
peace. The Council calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for the authorities in
North Korea to withdraw their armed forces to the 38th parallel.
The resolution is adopted by 7 to 1 against from Yugoslavia. Egypt and India were present but
did not participate in voting and the Soviet Union was absent.
27 June
UN votes a decision to help Korea (USSR boycotts, and Yugoslavia abstains)
and to send troops there Korea. US troops are joined by symbolic contingents from: Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, UK, France, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Greece, the
Netherlands, Ethiopia, Columbia, the Philippines, Belgium and Luxemburg. (US provided
50% ground forces – most of the rest was Korean, 86% naval and 93% air forces were
provided by USA). In the peak of action UN troops numbered 400,000 Koreans, 250,000
Americans and 35,000 from other nations.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 84
Adopted on July 7, 1950
• the attack on the Republic of Korea by the forces from North Korea constituts a breach
of the peace, the Council recommens that the members of the United Nations furnish
such assistance to the Republic of Korea as may be necessary to repel the attack and
restore peace and security to the area.
• The Council further recommends that all members providing military forces and other
assistance to The Republic make these forces and assistance available to a unified
command under the United States of America.
• The Council then requested that the United States designate the commander of such
forces and authorized said commander to use the Flag of the United Nations at his
discretion in the course of operations against North Korean forces.
• The Council requests that the United States provide it with reports as appropriate on
the course of action taken by the unified command.
•
•
The resolution is passed with the votes from the United Kingdom, the Republic of
China (Taiwan), Cuba, Ecuador, France, Norway and the United States.
The Kingdom of Egypt, India and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
abstain.The Soviet Union,is absent, having been boycotting proceedings since January,
in protest that the Republic of China and not the People's Republic of China held a
permanent seat on the council.
28 June
Soeul falls to North Koreans
30 June
American Far Eastern forces are commissioned to Korea under
MacArthur
5 July
First US troops take part in action and are easily overcome
7 July
UN Resolution 84
10 July
Upon US request, UN agrees to US Commander of its forces and Truman
nominates MacArthur to supreme command
June-August North Korean advances force South Koreans and US troops to retreat, holding
barely 10% of the Korean peninsula round Pusan
15 September UN troops under the command of MacArthur land at Inchon; the operation was
intended to liberate Soeul and cut North Korean supply lines
24 September UN troops enter Soeul; and attack from Pusan drives North Koreans into
retreat, but barely one-quarter/one third escapes
1 October
South Korean troops pass 38th Parallel
2 October
Mao informs Stalin, that China will enter the war
7 October
UN pass a resolution calling for a unified, independent and democratic Korea
9 October
UN troops pass 38th Parallel
19 October Pyongyang falls
25 October Chinese troops enter fighting in northwest Korea
1 November UN troops are 18 miles away from Yalu river (border river with China)
7 November End of Chinese operation in the north
8 November First (in history) jet battle takes place between F-80s and MiG-15s, with the
two latter shot down
October-November Debates in the US concerning the policy to be applies in Indochina; a
vision to start occupation and concentrate on Europe is opposed by ideas to counter
Communists and continue advance
24 November US troops under General Walker resume the offensive
25-26 November
Chinese offensive; Although US troops hold, Chinese Popular Army
breaks through South Korean defies and endangers the whole from; Mac Arthur manages to
control the situation, but orders to retreat beyond the 38th Parallel
December
Doubts and debates in US about the conduct of war, which by now is a UNChina war (concept to pursue war against limited warfare)
1951 4 January
Chinese New Year’s offensive takes Soeul; counteroffensive is
launched by Ridgway
April Front line again ailing 38th Parallel with Soeul recaptured
11 April
Truman dismisses MacArthur over disagreement concerning limited
war (what MacArthur opposed)
22 April
Chinese offensive is halted south of 38th Parallel by 19 May
End May
Front stabilizes on 38th Parallel
Stalemate
23 June
Soviet UN official Jakob Malik proposes cease fire
10 July
Talks begin at Kaesong; hostilities continue
August-mid-October Fighting resumed in the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge
Late October Talks resumed at Panmunjom; fighting continues
12 November Ridgeway orders cease fire; raids, local attacks, patrols continue, but do not
break into larger actions
1952
November
General Dwight Eisenhower is elected president with a mandate to end the war;
the president orders the design of military plans including use of nuclear weapons, which are
made public
1953
5 March
Stalin dies
May
Last Chinese attacks and attempts to change front line
27 June
Armistice signed by Lieutenant General Nam Il and Lieutenant General
Wiliam Harrison at 10:00am at Panmunjom