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The Korean War 1950-1953

The Korean War 1950-1953. The Cold War: Development & Impact Globally. The war was caused by external issues. Korea had been under Japanese occupation during WWII – after Japan had lost the Allied forces and the Soviets agreed to divide Korea along the 38 th parallel

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The Korean War 1950-1953

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  1. The Korean War 1950-1953 The Cold War: Development & Impact Globally

  2. The war was caused by external issues • Korea had been under Japanese occupation during WWII – after Japan had lost the Allied forces and the Soviets agreed to divide Korea along the 38th parallel • Most Koreans wanted unification • The Soviets occupied the North, and the US occupied the South • The US created the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the South under Syngman Rhee • In response the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) was founded in the North under Communist leader Kim Il-Sung • North Korea wanted to expand its borders and communism into the south • North Korea with support from the USSR and People’s Republic of China invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950

  3. -Korean War was the result of both defensive and offensive reasons: • -South Korea was defending itself against a North Korean attack • -North Korea provoked the war by crossing the border • -Was the result of political causes: • -The US wanted to contain communism; USSR and China wanted communism to expand • -The 38th parallel acted as a political border

  4. Weapons & Technology • Aircraft was the newest technology evolving in warfare at the time • First war to utilize the jet aircraft & saw some of the first helicopters used during a war • Helicopters used for medical evacuation • Fighter aircraft were primarily used fir air-to air combat against other fighters • Bombers used to attack the ground forces & buildings • Transport aircraft used to transport troops or equipment across distances • Reconnaissance aircraft used for surveying or observation missions • Weapons used by the US Army Infantry & US Marine Corps were basically the same types used in WWII

  5. Cost of the War • For Korea • Cost in human lives & property was vast • $67 billion (1953 dollars); $535 billion (2008 dollars) • Much of North Korean land was severely damaged due aerial bombing • For the US • NSC-68’s recommendation to triple the defense budget was implemented • US defense spending increased dramatically turning at around 10% of American GNP in 1950 • Heavy American casualties and many were taken as POW’s

  6. Role played by outside forces • The United States asked the UN the remove the North Koreans by force, claiming that their invasion was a violation of peace • USSR could not veto the decision (boycotting); UN sent in troops in support of South Korea (15 UN countries); US comprised of 90% of the UN force • July 1 troops arrived in Korea, soon joined by 15 other nations, although majority were American troops fought under UN commander American General Douglas MacArthur • General MacArthur led the UN forces in an amphibious attack at Inchon (near Seoul) in order to bypass Korean troops & cut them off • Within a month he retook Seoul & drove the North Koreans back to the 38th parallel • Pushed North Koreans as far back as the Yalu River (Korean border w/ China) • US redefined its war aims: Rather than just concentrating on a policy of containment, it decided on a policy of ‘rollback’  meant liberating North Koreans from Communist rule & reuniting Korea • China became concerned for its own security • November 27,1950, a force of 200,000 Chinese joined 150,000 North Koreans & sent the UN troops into a rapid retreat

  7. Role played by outside forces • Pyongyang was recaptured in December • End of 1950 North & their allies had retaken all land up to the 38th parallel • January 1951: UN forces recovered their technological advantage & the Chinese army was forced to retreat • The UN forces had technological superiority , but Chinese forces were larger in number • Mao provided unlimited numbers of ‘volunteers’ to defeat UN forces • MacArthur suggested the use of nuclear weapons against the Chinese  Truman against this  scared Stalin would retaliate by using it’s own nuclear weapons • MacArthur relieve of command in April 1951

  8. End of the Korean War • Battle lines stabilized near the 38th parallel  stalemate 1951-1953 • Main conflict: repatriation of POW’s  US & UN argued for voluntary returns, Chinese would only agree if a majority of North Koreans would return voluntarily, but this did not happen • Stalin did not want to accept a Communist defeat in Korea • His death in March 1953 = critical to the end of the Korean War • Power struggled ensued in Soviet leadership  Korea no longer regarded as crucial to Soviet Power & influence • New US president was Dwight Eisenhower  election was partly based on withdrawal from Korea • Therefore, the 2 main powers did not see Korea as vital to their interest

  9. End of the Korean War • The war ended in a ceasefire; there was no victory • Ended on July 27th, 1953 with a truce; armistice signed • North Korea and South Korea remain divided • Tensions still exist today

  10. The Korean Armistice Agreement • Longest negotiated armistice in history (negotiated over 2 years and 17 days) • 18 official copies; tri-lingual • Went into effect at 10 pm on July 27th, 1953 • Signed by US Army Lt. Gen. William K. Harrison, Jr., UN Command Delegate, North Korean Gen. Nam Il, and volunteers from the People’s Republic of China • Purely a military document (no nation is a signatory)

  11. The Korean Armistice Agreement: • Suspended open hostilities • Withdrew military forces and equipment from a 4000 meter wide zone (created a buffer between the two zones) • Prevented both sides from entering the air, ground, or seas on opposing sides • Released POWs • Establishes the Military Armistice Commission (MAC) + other agencies – used to ensure that the truce terms were followed

  12. Division between North Korea and South Korea.

  13. POWs • A committee of representatives of neutral countries was established to decide the fate of the POWs: The Neutral Nations' Repatriation Commission • Czechoslovakia, India, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland • Many Chinese and North Korean POWs did not want to return to their life under communism; staged a violent protest • Decided that they could choose their own fate: either stay or return to their home land • September 1953: 88,559 POWs were exchanged • The Neutral Nations’ Repatriation Commission took custody of POWs that refused to return home

  14. Ceasefire ≠ Peace • The Korean Armistice Agreement was NOT a peace treaty; North Korea and South Korea are still technically at war • Was intended as a temporary measure • General Nam Il (signatory on behalf of North Korea) said that it was a made to be a ceasefire “until a final peace settlement is achieved” • Peace settlement never came • Attempt to make peace settlements occurred in a conference in Geneva (1954); no agreements settled • Tensions between the two nations are still high • Border between North Korea and South Korea is the most heavily militarised border in the world

  15. The Role of the UN • During negotiations, the UN made a command for the exchange of sick or wounded POWs; Communists agreed • After the armistice was signed, both sides charged each other of war crimes (torture, starvation of POWs); N.Korea and China accused of brain washing POWs – UN condemned such acts • The Korean Armistice Agreement was signed by the UN and the Communists (N.Korea and China; South Korea not a signatory)

  16. The Settlement Remains Unstable • The two nations still remain divided • High tensions still exist • Provocations from North Korea • Precautions taken to ensure that the armistice isn’t violated have fallen apart • The Neutral nations Supervisory Commission, originally comprised of Sweden, Switzerland, Poland, and Czechoslovakia now only consists of Sweden and Switzerland • The role of the MAC has diminished (with North Korea's refusal to acknowledge South Korean Army general as the chief representative) • “The Korean War Armistice Agreement is both an important historical and currently relevant document for the security structure of the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia and beyond.” – Sarah K. Yun, Director of Public Affairs and Regional Issues for the Korea Economic Institute

  17. Works Cited And Consulted • Armistice agreement for the restoration of the south korean state (1953). (n.d.). • Retrieved from http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=85 • Armistice ends the korean war. (n.d.). Retrieved from • http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/armistice-ends-the-korean-war • Armstrong, C. (2010, May 24). The korean war never ended. Retrieved from • http://articles.cnn.com/2010-05-24/opinion/armstrong.north.korea_1_north-korea-kim-jong-korean-war-armistice?_s=PM:OPINION • Jets and aircraft of the korean war. (n.d.). Retrieved from • http://www.ellejet.com/jet-and-aircraft-of-the-korean-war.php • The korean war. (2005, April 25). Retrieved from • http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/korea/kwar.html • The korean war summary & analysis. (n.d.). Retrieved from • http://www.shmoop.com/korean-war/summary.html • Timeline: North korea – key events since the end of the korean war. (2010, • November 23). Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/23/timeline-north-korea-south-korea • Signing of armistice ends korean war. (2012, July 27). Retrieved from • http://www.newsinhistory.com/blog/signing-armistice-ends-korean-war • What the korean war cost the united states. (n.d.). Retrieved from • http://historical.whatitcosts.com/facts-korean-war.htm

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