[TMJC] Theme I The Development of the CW EXTENSION

1 A WORLD DIVIDED BY THE COLD WAR: KOREAN WAR CONTENTS OUTLINE 1. Background to the Korean War 2. Nature of the Korean War 3. Consequences of the Korean War 4. CHECK POINT A 1. BACKGROUND TO THE KOREAN WAR Chronology: 1948 July Separate Korean govts established in North and South Korea August US formally recognized South Korea’s independence and began to withdraw; the Soviets made similar arrangements. 1949 Sept Truman announced detonation of Soviet’s first atomic bomb. October People’s Republic of China established 1950 12 Jan Dean Acheson’s Defense Perimeter Speech April Syngman Rhee did badly in the South Korean elections 25 June North Korean forces invade South Korea 27 June UN Security Council voted in favor of sending UN forces to defend South Korea 28 June North Korean forces captured Seoul 1 July First UN forces arrive at Pusan in South Korea 15 Sept UN forces made surprise amphibious landing in Inchon 28 Sept UN forces re-captured Seoul 29 Sept Truman authorized MacArthur’s advance north of 38th parallel 7 Oct US forces cross the 38th parallel 10 Oct Chinese govt threatened to enter war against the US 20 Oct UN forces captured Pyongyang 26 Oct Chinese troops entered the Korean War Dec MacArthur recommends recapture of North Korea, defeat of Communism in China and even use of atom bombs against China. 1951 1 Jan Chinese troops crossed the 38th parallel 4 Jan Chinese troops took Seoul March Communist forces pushed back to the 38th parallel 24 Mar MacArthur publicly criticized the idea of negotiating a deal with China 11 April Truman relieved MacArthur of the command of UN forces in Korea 23 June Armistice talks began, but no agreed ceasefire 1952 Nov Dwight D. Eisenhower elected as President of the United States 1953 5 March Death of Stalin 27 Jul Armistice signed at Panmunjom ended the Korean War First time the Cold War became a “hot war” where physical fighting occurred ▪ Korea was divided at the 38th Parallel after WWII ▪ Both Korean leaders claimed the right to rule over the whole of Korea USSR Influence: North – The People’s Democratic Republic – DPRK (under Kim Il Sung) ▪ USA Influence: South – The Republic of Korea (under Syngman Rhee) ▪ By 1950, both powers had withdrawn their troops having set up regimes in the 2 halves ▪ These 2 men wanted to unify their country under their own leadership through military means. ▪ North’s Surprise Attack against the South, 1950 o Kim Il Sung thought he had a good chance of unifying Korea after (1) US troops withdrew from South Korea, (2) Korea not mentioned in US’ defense perimeter, (3) Establishment of Communist PRC o Persuaded USSR and China to give him permission to invade South Korea, and received weapons and advisors from them o Capital of South Korea, Seoul, fell to North Korea in 3 days

2 ▪ USA action: Authorised a force under the UN to be sent to Korea – 17 tr