The Korean War

1. The Korean War Debbie Whitlock DRMS 2010

2. Korea • Had been a Japanese colony since 1910 • End of WWII – Japan loses colonies • Korea now wanted its independence … • but communist or republic? Solution?

3. Soviet Russia occupied the north DPRK – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea aka … North Korea US occupied the south ROK – Republic of Korea aka … South Korea Divide! At the 38th parallel …

4. However, N. wanted to control ALL of Korea and have only ONE communist nation • Lots of skirmishes at the 38th parallel between the two • June 1950 – N. invades S. • Beginning of Korean War • China – in order to “defend their territories” – launched its armies in Nov. • Eventually fighting … • S. Korea, US, and allies • v. N. Korea, USSR, and China

5. Eventually armies ended up back at 38th parallel where fighting remained for the next 2 years • July 1953 – • finally, an armistice agreed upon… • but a treaty was never signed • A Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) established • UN commission set up to supervise the armistice UNTIL a peace treaty was signed … but that peace treaty never came

6. The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is an area that separates North and South Korea • It’s purpose is to be the boundary that splits the two countries • Approximately 155 miles long and 2.5 miles wide. • Because of its size and the constant tension between the two countries, it is considered the most heavily militarized border in the world.

7. The DMZ

8. Patrolling the DMZ

9. Guard stations along the DMZ

10. North Korean side South Korean side

11. The dividing line – where the sand meets the gravel “The DMZ is probably the most fortified border on Earth, with more than a million soldiers facing each other with enough artillery to obliterate each other in a matter of hours. Tension constantly runs high here -- The DMZ is dotted with land mines and razor wire and concrete tank bunkers and Communist soldiers dug into mountainsides behind cast-iron "blast doors" to protect them against bombs dropped from American B-52s.” … The Washington Post Company 1998

12. DMZ line not only line drawn! The NLL line was drawn as well! Northern Limit Line

13. Maritime border in the Yellow SeaThe NLL • NLL – Northern Limit Line • UN “draws” line to indicate limit of range of S. Korean vessels • Line respected by US and S. Korea • NOT by N. Korea – N. Korea has always disputed line – drawing a very different line of its own

14. Maritime border in the Yellow Sea • Importance of this line • Economics • Military strategy

15. Maritime border in the Yellow Sea • Importance of this line • Economics • site of rich crab fishing grounds – N. Korea, S. Korea, and China all wanting its share of the catch • Sanction-struck N. Korea, marine product exports are one of its last few sources of money Take 5 … what is a sanction?

16. Sanction • Restrictions imposed on trade with a country with the aim of persuading that country's government to make an important policy change. • Sanctions can include a trade embargo - the banning of all commercial shipments in and out of a particular country.

17. Maritime border in the Yellow Sea • Importance of this line • Military strategy • S. Korea gained 5 islands that lie just off N. Korean coastline • Provide S. Korea a spot to spy on N. Korea • Today – heavily occupied by S. Korean marines • Therefore, could prove to be staging base for amphibious attacks on N. Korea

18. So why now? Why, back in 2010, did North Korea attack again? News clip from BBC … http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/9218848.stm

19. It wasn’t their first attack on S. Korea! • Other attacks … • Bombed S. Korea’s cabinet in Rangoon – 1983 • S. Korean airliner in 1987 • 1999 – fired on gunboat in NLL • 2002 – naval gunfight broke out along the NLL – precisely timed to coincide with football match between S. Korea and Japan World Cup (on S. Korean ground) • Attacks again in 2004 and 2009 • March 2010 – N. Korean torpedo attacked S. Korean corvette • The attack last Tuesday (Nov. 2010)… N. Korea fired at a marine base, also hitting a civilian village

20. Nov. 2010’s attack … he said / they said • North Korea – • claims returned fire after S. Korea opened fire first • South Korea • admits to conducting firing exercises, but says it was shooting into open sea – south and west of the island (which of course, is in waters N. Korea says belongs to them!)

21. Some say … • Transfer of power … from Kim Jong-il to his son, Kim Jong-un • Sept – younger Kim given key roles in political party and Central Military Commission • Military actions could be trying to show his authority

22. Some say … • … it’s just the military showing its own power – taking its own orders … some suggest the N. Korean military not happy about Jong-un’s proposed succession • … Strengthening its negotiating position by raising tensions, esp. with the nuclear issue

23. Nuclear issue • 6-pary talks … • Those involved - US, China, Russia, Japan, and the 2 Koreas • Purpose – end N. Korea’s nuclear program • Have been stalled since April 2009 • In 2005 – N. had agreed to abandon nuclear ambitions in return for aid • Deal fell apart over the issue of verification • US doubts proved well-founded • Nov. 2010 N. revealed uranium enrichment facility equipped with more than 1,000 centrifuges

24. Everybody’s stance in 2010? • US and S. Korea involved in exercises in the Yellow Sea • USS George Washington and its escorts were deployed to the Yellow Sea • China called for an emergency meeting of the “6” • In all probability, China not happy with N. Korea OR with US in sending carrier • N. Korea was blaming US

25. Update since Nov. 2010 … • Nothing more came of North Korea’s “show of force” • HOWEVER … in recent news … Dec. 17th, 2011 – Kim Jong Il died and his son took his place! • This makes the 3rd generation to govern over North Korea! His grandfather, Kim ll Sung, the first leader of North Korea, died in 1994 and his son, Kim Jong Il, ruled North Korea until his death in 2011.

26. In closing … because the Korean War only lasted three years (1950 - 1953) it is not thought of as significant, and often not even mentioned. Korean War Memorial

27. However, if one compares the statistics of the Korean War (54,246) to those of Vietnam (58,226) which lasted over sixteen years, by ratio the Korean War was far more devastating than the Vietnam War. Korean War Memorial

28. Results of Korean War … • Nothing gained … many died! • North and South Korea still divided. • North Korea still communist. • South Korea still a republic. • Still the two are bitter enemies. • However … the US did stop the advancement of communism … well, in South Korea anyway! Vietnam is another story for another day!

29. Words, people, and places to know … • Sanction • DMZ • 38th parallel • Yellow Sea • The “6”

30. Words, people, and places to know … • Sanction- Restrictions imposed on trade with a country with the aim of persuading that country's government to make an important policy change. • DMZ – demilitarization zone … a buffer between North and South Korea • 38th parallel – line of latitude where North and South Korea divided • Yellow Sea – body of water that lies between China and the Korean Peninsula • The “6” – those involved in the Korean nuclear talks - US, China, Russia, Japan, and the 2 Koreas

31. The Korean War • Now we have a problem … • __________ wanted all of Korean Peninsula as 1 ____________ country! • Therefore … June _______ invades __________ Korea • Thus begins the Korean War • Background History • _______ colony since 1910 • Japan loses colonies after _________ • Independence for Korea …BUT one problem … what type of government? • _______________________ • OR • _______________________ • Solution? • _______________ • At ______ parallel • North Korea • Official name ___________________ • Occupied by ___________________ • South Korea • Official name ___________________ • Occupied by ___________________ • The War • _________ joins South Korea • __________ joins North Korea • Fighting consisted of … • South Korea & ________ • v. • North Korea, _________, & __________ • Fighting ends up back at the ___________ parallel • Continues for _______ more years • The Fighting Stops • Armistice (cease fire) • July ______________ • _________ established • Peace treaty ___________ signed

32. The Korean War • Nuclear Issue • 6-party talks • Those involved … _____, China, Russia, _________, & both Koreas • Purpose – end ___________ nuclear program • Stalled since ________ • DMZ • Separates __________ & __________ Korea • Purpose - __________ b/t the 2 • _____ miles long & ______ miles wide • Constant tension – therefore … most heavily militarized border in the world today! • Results of Korean War • __________ gained! • North & South still ____________ • North still ___________________ • South still ___________________ • Both still bitter enemies! • NLL • Northern Limit __________ • Through the ____________ • Importance of line • Economics • ____ fishing • Last resource for _________ for N. Kora • Military strategy • ________ Korea spies on the North • Words to know … • Sanction • DMZ • 38th parallel • Yellow Sea • The “6”