Download The Korean War Background to the conflict

The Korean War
Background to the conflict
Japan had occupied Korea in 1910. After their defeat at the hands of the allies in the
Second World War they were forced to pull out. Soviet forces in the north of the
country and American forces in the south replaced Japanese troops. The 38th parallel
was used to divide the country on what was meant to be temporary basis. Both the
Soviets and the Americans agreed to leave once free elections had been held under the
control of the UN, as agreed at the Yalta conference.
When the UN tried to organise free elections the Soviets would not allow UN entry to
northern Korea. Instead a communist regime was established under Kim Il Sung in the
North Korean capital Pyongyang. In South Korea elections were held and an anticommunist, military government was set up in Seoul under the leadership of Syngman
Rhee. Korea was now divided and both sides claimed to be the rightful government of
the whole of Korea. There were frequent border clashes.
In 1949 China became communist and
South Korea felt increasingly isolated.
America was also extremely
concerned at the spread of
communism in the Far East. They
feared a domino effect where country
after country would be toppled by
the communist advance (‘domino
theory’). The Truman Doctrine also
gave explicit support to the idea that
America should support any country
willing to fight communism. In the
North, Stalin and the Chinese
communists encouraged Kim Il Sung
to attack South Korea. The Soviets
provided aid and military equipment
but never involved themselves
directly in the conflict.
Credit: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division
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The Korean War
Phases of the war
June 1950 – September 1950
Source B: The US State department, 1950
In June 1950 North Korea attacked the South
and the Korean War began. North Korea
quickly overwhelmed the South’s forces. By
September all, except a small corner of southeast Korea, was under Communist control.
Korea is a symbol to the watching world. If we
allow Korea to fall with the Soviet orbit, the
world will feel we have lost another round in
our match with the Soviet Union, and our
prestige and the hopes of those who place
their faith in us will suffer accordingly.
South Korea appealed to the UN for help. This
required all of the permanent members on the
Security Council (Brazil, France, USA,
nationalist China and Soviet Union) to agree.
The Soviet Union would have normally vetoed
this but in 1950 it was boycotting UN meetings
in protest at the refusal to admit communist
China. This meant that the Security Council
was able to declare North Korea to be the
aggressor and promised to send help to the
South.
Source A: American Senator Tom Connally,
1950
If the UN is ever going to do anything, this is
the time, and if the UN cannot bring the crisis
in Korea to an end then we might as well just
wash up the United Nations and forget it.
November 1950 – January 1951
MacArthur’s fast progress north led Communist
China to fear for its security. They warned UN
troops not to approach the Yalu River.
MacArthur disobeyed Truman’s orders and did
so. He wished to invade China and was
prepared to use nuclear weapons. Truman
dismissed him in April 1951 and appointed
General Ridgeway as his replacement.
To defend itself against possible invasion in
November 1950 China sent 200,000 ‘People’s
Volunteers’ to help North Korea. Armed with
modern planes and tanks (supplied by the
Soviet Union) they pushed the UN forces back
into South Korea.
June 1951 – July 1953
September 1950 – October 1950
The UN troops recovered and the fighting
reached a stalemate around the 38th parallel.
Neither side made significant gains and many
lives were lost.
The UN forces were made up of 16 nations
(later 32 countries participated), headed by
the USA. The Commander in Chief was the
American war hero, General Douglas
MacArthur.
MacArthur organised a successful seaborne
landing at Inchon (close to Seoul) that
surprised the Communists and forced them to
retreat. North Korean resistance collapsed and
UN troops advanced into North Korea and
approached China.
Peace talks began in in June 1951 but fighting
continued until 1952 when Truman was
replaced by President Eisenhower who wanted
to end the war. Stalin’s death in March 1953
meant that the Soviets also wanted to focus on
their internal problems. A cease-fire was
agreed at Panmunjom in 1953.
Tasks

What reasons are given in Sources A and B for supporting South Korea against the
communists?

Explain what was meant by the ‘domino theory’.

Explain how the Truman Doctrine applied to South Korea.

Do you think that the Korean War was a success for the US policy of containment?
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The Korean War
Map work

Cut out the maps and put them in the correct chronological order by matching the actions
shown in the arrows to the descriptions in the text above.

Annotate the maps with further details and dates from the text to explain the four key
stages of the war.
Map 1
Map 2
Map 3
Map 4
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