SJI QP and MS 2026 Prelim Paper

CANDIDATE NAME CLASS INDEX NUMBER HUMANITIES (HISTORY) Paper 2 No Additional Materials are required. 2261/02 17 August 2026 1 hour 50 minutes (08:05 – 09:55) READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST An answer booklet will be provided with this question paper. You should follow the instructions on the front cover of the answer booklet. If you need additional answer paper ask the invigilator for a continuation booklet. Section A Answer all parts of Question 1. Section B Answer two questions. The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question. This document consists of 6 printed pages including this cover page. [Turn over ST JOSEPH’S INSTITUTION PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2026 (YEAR 4)

2 Section A: Source-Based Case Study Question 1 is for all candidates. Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, and then answer all the questions. You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions, in addition to those sources you are told to use. In answering the questions you should use your knowledge of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources. 1 (a) Study Source A. Why did the British newspaper publish this? Explain your answer using details from the cartoon. [5] (b) Study Sources B and C. Stalin seems to have contradicted himself in the two sources. Does it mean that he is lying in one of them? Explain your answer. [6] (c) Study Source D. How useful is Source D i n helping you understand about the Korean War? Explain your answer. [6] (d) Study Sources E and F. How different are these two sources? Explain your answer. [5] (e) Study all sources. ‘The Soviet Union is responsible for starting the Korean War ’. How far do these sources agree with this view? Use the sources and your knowledge to explain your answer. [8]

3 The Korean War BACKGROUND INFORMATION Read this carefully. It may help you answer some of the questions. After the defeat of Japan in 1945, the Korean peninsula was jointly occupied by the Soviet Union in the north and the United States in the south, divided along the 38th parallel. By 1948, two separate governments had emerged: the communist Democratic Peopl e’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the North, led by Kim Il-sung, and the capitalist Republic of Korea (ROK) in the South, led by Syngman Rhee. Both leaders claimed to be the sole legitimate government of all Korea and openly expressed a desire to reunify the peninsula by force. Tensions escalated into frequent border skirmishes along the 38th parallel throughout 1949. On 25 June 1950, full -scale warfare broke out when the North Korean army launched a massive invasion across the border. While North Korea claimed it was reacting to a South Korean provocation, the United States and the United Nations viewed the invasion as a clear act of communist aggression orchestrated by the Soviet Union. This sparked a three -year international conflict that drew in global superpowers. Who was responsible for the Korean War? Source A: From a cartoon in a British newspaper published on 26 June 1950. “Something burning, Joe” refers to the British public questioning Joseph Stalin. [Turn over

4 Source B: From a memo signed off by Stalin to Kim Il Sung on September 1949. Your proposal to begin an attack by the Korean Peoples' Army on the South calls forth the necessity of us providing a precise evaluation. From the military and political point of view, it is not allowed. Militarily, if the North is not well prepared, the attack can turn into a prolonged military operation, which will create significant political and economic difficulties for North Korea. Since at present North Korea does not have the necessary superiority of military forces, it is impossible to acknowledge that a military attack on the south will be successful. Moreover, it is necessary to consider that if military actions begin at the initiative of the North and acquire a prolonged character, then this can give to the Americans cause for any kind of interference in Korean affairs. We agree with you that the people are waiting for the unification of the country and waiting for liberation from the burden of the reactionary regime. However, very little has been done to raise the broad masses of South Korea to an active struggle, and to organize forces for a general uprising. Source C: From a memo sent by Stalin to Kim Il Sung on 30 January 1950. I understand the dissatisfaction of Comrade Kim Il Sung, but he must understand that such a large matter regarding South Korea that he wants to undertake needs large preparation. The matter must be organized so that there would not be too great a risk. It is possible that Kim Il Sung needs our technical assistance and some number of Soviet specialists. We are ready to render this assistance. Transmit all this to Kim Il Sung and tell him that I am ready to help him in this matter. I have a request for Comrade Kim Il Sung. The Soviet Union is experiencing a great insufficiency in lead. We would like to receive from Korea a yearly minimum of 25,000 tons of lead. Korea would render us a great assistance if it could send to the Soviet Union the indicated amount of lead. I hope that Kim Il Sung will not refuse us in this. Source D: From a letter sent by Syngman Rhee to President Truman on 20 August 1949. Mr. President, I beg that you will consider again the very great danger of Communist assault in the immediate future. American officers tell me we have sufficient ammunition for two months of combat; my own officers tell me it is only sufficient for two days. I am not a soldier and cannot determine these facts with accuracy, but I am convinced that the American advisers are thinking in terms of piecemeal warfare, whereas we Koreans believe that when war comes it will be full scale and total. We must have at present the necessary arms and ammunitions as quoted in the enclosed list. The soldiers of the Republic are brave and loyal; they are skilled in the arts of war in no small degree because of American training and equipment. But, Mr. President, they must not be left without adequate supply of arms and munitions.

5 Source E: A statement by US President Truman, 27 June 1950. The Korean Government forces were attacked by invading forces from North Korea. The Security Council of the United Nations called upon the invading troops to cease hostilities and to withdraw to the 38th parallel. The attack upon Korea makes it plain beyond all doubt that communism has passed beyond the use of subversion to conquer independent nations and will now use armed invasion and war. It has defied the orders of the United Nations issued to preserve international peace and security. Members of the United Nations will carefully consider the consequences of this latest aggression in Korea in defiance of the Charter of the United Nations. A return to the rule of force in international affairs would have far - reaching effects. Source F: A radio address by Kim Il Sung, 26 June 1950. On June 25, the army of the puppet government of the traitor Syngman Rhee launched an all -out offensive along the 38th parallel against the northern half of Korea. The Security Forces of the Republic have frustrated their advance. The DPRK* ordered our People’s Army to start decisive counteroffensive action and drove the enemy back. It is universal knowledge that the Syngman Rhee clique is dead s