1. The Korean War

2. At the end of WWII, Japanese forces in Korea surrendered to the Allies – Forces North of the 38 th parallel surrendered to the Soviets, forces South of the 38 th parallel surrendered to the US – The Soviets established a communist government in the North (The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) – The US established a semi- democratic government in the South (The Republic of Korea) – Both sides claimed to be the legitimate government of all of Korea and threatened to invade the other side

3. Debating the UN The United Nations was founded in 1945, soon after the end of WWII The most important decisions of the UN are made by the Security Council – The security council is made up of 5 permanent members and 10 rotating members – The permanent members have veto power Come up with three logical arguments in favor of the current way the Security Council works Come up with three logical arguments against the current way the Security Council works Permanent Members of the UNSC The US The UK France Russia (formerly the USSR) China (formerly the Republic of China in Taiwan)

4. On June 25, 1950, the Korean War began – Most Soviet troops had pulled out of the North and most US troops had pulled out of the South – Soviets thought that the US would not risk a larger war by backing the South – North Korea invaded the South and almost succeeded in taking the whole country – The US got a UN Security Council resolution authorizing military action and sent troops into South Korea The Soviets had boycotted the Security Council because it did not recognize the People’s Republic of China

5. Larger powers join the Korean War – American troops under Douglas MacArthur, along with UN allies, attack North Korean forces and drive them back to the Chinese border – Chinese troops joined the North Koreans and drove the UN forces across the 38 th parallel – A cease-fire was declared in 1951 and an armistice in 1953, establishing the border between North and South Korea almost exactly where it had been

6. Korea before the war Korea after the war Death Toll from the Korean War American Soldiers36,574 Chinese Soldiers600,000 South Korean Soldiers217,000 South Korean Civilians1,000,000 North Korean Soldiers406,000 North Korean Civilians600,000