SCGS 2025 H(E) MS

2025 4OLP HE Prelims LORMS Section A 1a) Study Source A. Why was this statement made? Explain your answer 5 L Level Descriptor Marks L1 Description of source/Misinterpretation e.g. This statement was made to state that the responsibility for these events rest on the South Korean authorities and on those who are behind them. 1 L2 Identifies message of source Award the higher mark for answers that are explained. e.g. This statement was made to convince the USA that the USSR was not responsible for North Korea’s attack on South Korea on 25 th June 1950. Source A states that “Now, the Soviet Government stands by the principle of that the interference of foreign powers in the internal affairs of Korea should not be allowed.” The USSR thus wanted to reinforce the idea that they were not involved, and likewise United States should follow the USSR’s lead and stay out of a localised conflict since foreign interference will make matters worse. 2-3 L3 Answers based on outcome. Award for the higher mark for answers that make reference to context e.g. This statement was made to convince America that USSR was not responsible for North Korea’s attack on South Korea on 25 th June 1950 so that the United States would take a step back and not be involved in the Korean War as well. Source A states that “Now, the Soviet Government stands by the principle of that the interference of foreign powers in the internal affairs of Korea should not be allowed.” This source was produced 4 days after North Korea’s invasion of South Korea, and after the United Nations condemned North Korea’s actions. The USSR thus wanted to deflect any blame and to reinforce the idea that they were not involved, and likewise United States should out of a localised conflict since foreign interference would make matters worse. Although Kim Il Sung had sought permission from Stalin to invade North Korea before the attack on South Korea happened, the USSR did not want to risk military confrontation with the USA, previously only providing military supplies and economic support. Given this sentiment, the USSR thus wanted to reinforce how they were not responsible for the attack and were not involved at a deep level. 4-5 1 4OLP HE 2025 Prelims LORMS

1b) Study Source B. How useful is Source B as evidence about whether the Korean War was a proxy war? Explain your answer. 5 L Level Descriptor Marks L1 Uncritical acceptance/ Answers based on typicality/ provenance e.g. Source B is not useful because Source B is by the United Nations which was supported by the United States. 1 L2 Useful/not useful, based on source content OR Critical analysis of provenance without claim Award 3 marks for answers supported by valid source evidence, without explanation e.g. Source B is useful because it suggests that the Korean War was a proxy war. Source B is a leaflet where the USSR was pushing Mao Zedong who was then pushing North Koreans, with the caption “The North Korea soldier is forced to fight Soviet Russia’s war.” This suggests that the main instigator here was USSR was they were using North Korea as a proxy to achieve their own goals and aims of spreading communism. 2-3 L3 Useful or NOT Useful, based on cross reference e.g. Source B is useful because it suggests that the Korean War was a proxy war. Source B is a leaflet where the USSR was pushing China who was then pushing North Korean, with the caption “The North Korea soldier is forced to fight Soviet Russia’s war.” This suggests that the main instigator here was USSR was they were using North Korea as a proxy to achieve their own goals and aims of spreading communism. This is supported by Source E which suggests that the Korean War was a proxy war. Source E suggests that USSR was responsible. Source E is cartoon which depicts Kim dancing like a puppet, and how Kim was controlled by the USSR government, with the caption “Kim Il Sung dances to the flute of the Kremlin.” This suggests that Kim had no say and control over what to do, and had to follow the instructions of the USSR, highlighting that it was a proxy war. Since Source E supports Source B, Source B is reliable and thus useful. 3-4 L4 Useful, based on critical analysis of the provenance/hidden purpose e.g. Upon further analysis of the provenance, Source B is not useful. Source B was produced by the United Nations, which was heavily backed by the United States. The United States even provided most of the troops for the United Nations Command due to their hatred for communism. Considering that the United States had always thought that USSR was the one at fault, I would expect them to convince the North Koreans that the USSR was a manipulative bully who manipulated local conflicts to further its own interest, so that the North Koreans would stop supporting North Korean war efforts and hopefully rebel and end the war. The source met my expectation by portraying USSR negatively, hence making Source B unreliable due to its hidden agenda. Even though Source B is unreliable, Source B is still useful in showing the attitudes of the United Nations towards the USSR, and how they felt that it was the fault of USSR for instigating the conflict and worsening the situation in Korea due to their desire to spread communism. 4-5 2 4OLP HE 2025 Prelims LORMS

1c) Study Sources C and D. Having read Source C, are you surprised by Source D? Explain your answer. 6 L Level Descriptor Marks L1 Surprised or Not surprised, based on provenance/content unexplained e.g. Having read Source C, I am surprised by Source D as they are from different leaders. 1 L2 Surprised or Not surprised, explained using source details Award the higher mark in the level for more fully developed answers. e.g. Having read Source C, I am surprised by Source D since they differ about who was at fault for the Korean War. Source C suggests that it was the fault of Syngman Rhee. Source C states that “He seeks to turn our country into a colony of US imperialism and make all Korean people slaves of US imperialism.” This suggests that Syngman Rhee wanted to gain the support of the US, and hence he took the first move and caused the Korean War. However, Source D suggests that it was the Communists at fault. Source D states that “This attack has made it clear, beyond all doubt, that the international communist movement is willing to use armed invasion to conquer independent nations.” This suggests that the Communists were at fault because they wanted to expand the Communist sphere of influence. 2-3 L3 L2 + Cross-reference to other sources and/or contextual knowledge Award the higher mark for more developed answer. Having read Source C, I am not surprised by Source D because Source D is supported by Source B, which agrees that it was the fault of