FIFTH YEAR GCSE

THE KOREAN WAR

The Korean War, 1950–53

The Korean War was important because it was the time when the Cold War became a global conflict.

In 1945, Korea was freed from the Japanese. US troops stayed in Korea until 1946. The country was split in half at the 38th parallel:
* North Korea (led by Kim Il Sung) was Communist.
* South Korea (led by Syngman Rhee) was capitalist.

The two countries hated each other.

What caused the Korean War?

1. Domino theory - fear of the spread of Communism
Europe was not the only place where Communists were coming to power. In the Far East, too, they were getting powerful – China turned Communist in 1949. Truman believed that, if one country fell to Communism, then others would follow, like a line of dominoes. He was worried that, if Korea fell, the Communists would capture Japan.

Source B This map from an American magazine published in November 1950 shows how much they feared the spread of Communism in the far east.

2. Growing belief that Communism needed to be undermined:
In April 1950, the American National Security Council issued a report (NSC 68) recommending that America abandon 'containment' and start 'rolling back' Communism.

3. The Cold War context:
Truman realised the USA was in a competition for world domination with the USSR.
By supporting South Korea, America was able to fight Communism without directly attacking Russia.

4. Stalin was also interested in the Far East:
Kim Il Sung visited Stalin in 1949 and persuaded him that he could conquer South Korea. Stalin did not think that America would dare to get involved, so he gave his agreement. Stalin saw a chance to continue the cold war and discomfort America, but ‘at arm’s length’ – without directly confronting the Americans. Kim II Sung also went to see Mao Tse Tung, the leader of China, to get his agreement.

5. Mutual fear and animosity between North and South Korea.
In 1950, Syngman Rhee (Sout Korea) boasted that he was going to attack North Korea. It was a good enough excuse – the North Koreans invaded South Korea.

This started the Korean War.

Source C This cartoon by the British cartoonist David Low, from the Daily Herald (30 Jun 1950), shows Truman and the United Nations rushing to Korea’s aid.

The Events of the War, 1950–53

The war had FIVE phases:

Phase 1	June - Sept 1950 On 25 June 1950, the North Koreans attacked. They were very successful. The North Korean People's Army (NKPA) easily defeated the Republic of Korea's army (the ROKs) They captured most of South Korea. On 27 June they persuaded the United Nations to pass a resolution supporting South Korea. The Americans sent troops to Korea to reinforce the South Korean Army at Pusan.
Phase 2	Sept - Nov 1950 On 15 September, the American General MacArthur led a UN amphibious landing at Inchon (near Seoul) behind the NKPA . Out of the 300,000 UN troops, 260,000 were Americans. In danger of being cut off, the NKPA had to retreat. The Americans drove them back and recaptured South Korea. 125,000 NKPA prisoners were taken. On 7 October 1950 MacArthur invaded North Korea. He advanced as far as the Chinese border. He boasted that the Americans would be 'home by Christmas'.
Phase 3	Nov 1950 - Feb 1951 Now the Chinese were alarmed. On 25 November, 200,000 Chinese troops ('People's Volunteers') attacked MacArthur. They had modern weapons supplied by Russia, and a fanatical hatred of the Americans. Then, on 31 December, half a million more Chinese troops entered the war and attacked the Americans. They drove the Americans back (using 'human wave tactics'). They recaptured North Korea, and advanced into South Korea.
Phase 4	February – March 1951 The Americans landed more troops. They used bombers. The Chinese admitted to losing 390,000 men dead - UN sources put the figure at up to a million Chinese and half a million North Koreans dead. The Americans drove the Chinese back, but lost 54,000 American soldiers dead doing so. MacArthur reached the 38th parallel in March 1951.
Phase 5	March 1951 – 1953 Truman told MacArthur to stop. MacArthur was sacked when he publicly criticised Truman’s order. In 1953, Eisenhower became American president. The Americans threatened to use the atomic bomb if China did not stop fighting. The Chinese agree to a truce, which was signed on 27 July 1953. It is estimated that 10 million people died in the war - as many as died in the First World War.