Historical background on the Korean War

Unlike World War II and Vietnam, the Korean War Did you know? Unlike World War II and Vietnam, the Korean War did not get much media attention in the United States. The most famous representation of the war in popular culture is the television series “M*A*S*H,” which was set in a field hospital in South Korea. The series ran from 1972 until 1983, and its final episode was the most-watched in television history.

Korean War Keep in mind: After WWII Korea was divided at the 38th parallel. The U.S.S.R. occupied North Korea and the U.S. occupied South Korea. On June 25, 1950 90,000 North Korean soldiers launched an invasion into South Korea.

The North Korean attack was seen as a clear example of Soviet expansionism. There was a fear that failure to take action would undermine the credibility of the USA in its determination to resist Communism and would encourage a ‘domino effect’ in neighboring states. “If we let Korea down, the Soviets will keep right on going and swallow up one piece of Asia after another… If we were to let Asia go, the Near East would collapse and no telling what would happen in Europe… Korea is like the Greece of the Far East. If we are tough enough now, if we stand up to them like we did in Greece three years ago, they won’t take any more steps.” - President Truman

The USA sponsored a resolution in the UN calling for military action against North Korea. The Resolution passed on June 27th 1950! But why didn’t the Soviet Union veto it? The Soviet Union was boycotting the Security Council in protest at the refusal of the USA to allow Communist China a seat on the Council. If the UN ignored the North Korean invasion, it would be following the same mistakes of its predecessor the League of Nations.

The U. S. and 15 other nations sent troops to Korea The U.S. and 15 other nations sent troops to Korea. The troops were under the command of an American named Gen. MacArthur. U.S. troops advance past a stream of retreating civilians in South Korea, August 1950

Secretary of State Dean Acheson stated that the Korean War ‘removed the recommendations of NSC-68 from the realm of theory and made them immediate budget issues.’ Secretary of State Dean Acheson

The initial push by the North Koreans took them deep into South Korea The initial push by the North Koreans took them deep into South Korea. South Korean and American troops were pushed into a small area around Pusan. Gen. MacArthur led UN forces in an amphibious landing at Inchon. Within a month he had retaken Seoul and driven the North Koreans back to the 38th parallel.

Encouraged by success, the US redefined its war aims and, rather than just containing Communism, the US decided on a policy of ‘rollback’. This would mean liberating the North Koreans from Communist rule and reuniting Korea. UN forces crossed the 38th parallel into North Korean territory and began a rapid advance northwards, capturing Pyongyang, the capital of the North, in October.

The march towards the Yalu River made China concerned about its own security. On November 27th 1950, a force of 200,000 Chinese joined 150,000 North Koreans and sent the UN troops into a rapid retreat. Pyongyang was recaptured in December and by the end of 1950, the North Koreans and their allies had retaken all land up to the 38th parallel. There were heavy American casualties in the cold, and many were taken prisoner. A stalemate developed around the 38th parallel.

Truman dismissed MacArthur in 1951. Truman realized the US needed to return to the original aim of containing Communism. MacArthur disagreed with Truman. MacArthur called for the use of the atomic bomb against China. Truman dismissed MacArthur in 1951. MacArthur and Truman in better times

Peace talks started in 1951 with a focus on the repatriation of prisoners of war. The war continued for another two years. A military armistice was signed at Panmunjom in July 1953.

The Korean War We know that at the end of WWII – Korea was divided. The USSR was to occupy north of the 38th parallel and the US was to occupy south of the 38th parallel. This agreement was supposed to be temporary. At the Council of Foreign Ministers’ Moscow Conference in December 1945 the US and USSR agreed on the creation of a Korean provisional government eventually leading to independence.

This was difficult to achieve because: As the Cold War developed, the US and the USSR were less willing to co-operate. Despite the Moscow Agreement, separate administrations emerged on either side of the 38th parallel. In the south, the U.S. backed Synghman Rhee. The Soviets backed Kim Il Sung. Both Rhee and Kim Il Sung were Korean nationalists, both wanted to end the division of Korea and each saw himself as the leader of a united Korea. Synghman Rhee Kim Il Sung

The Americans persuaded the UN to establish a commission to supervise Korean elections. The commission was refused entry into the North, but observed a separate election in the South in May 1948. Although most Koreans opposed partition, the Republic of Korea was set up in the South under Synghman Rhee. In response, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) was founded in the North under Kim Il Sung in September 1948.

Although the US supported Rhee with economic and military aid, the US did not intend to station troops there, and the US military left South Korea by mid-1949. Soviet troops had left the North in 1948.

So, having withdrawn their troops, why did the superpowers become involved in a war on the peninsula? Orthodox historians – The North Korean attack was initiated and led by Stalin. Revisionist historians – Stalin had no role in the invasion, and the North was possibly responding to attacks from the South. The opening of Soviet archives after 1990 made it easier to unravel the causes of the war and clarify the roles of Kim Il Sung and Stalin.

What was role of Kim Il Sung? It is clear both Synghman Rhee and Kim Il Sung wanted to unify the country. Thus a civil war would have existed in any case, regardless of the involvement of the superpowers. However, neither side could unify the country on its own, and thus the involvement of the Soviets in support of Kim Il Sung or the Americans in support of Synghman Rhee was essential for success.

What was the role of Kim Il Sung? Kim Il Sung put a huge amount of effort into persuading Stalin that he should back an attack on the South. The impetus for war came from Pyongyang and not from Moscow. The Truman administration’s assumption in June 1950, and of many scholars writing since then, that the war was Stalin’s initiative is therefore false, though his support for Kim Il Sung was key in allowing the war to go ahead.

What was the role of Stalin? Although unwilling to agree to Kim Il Sung’s plans for a war against the South, the evidence shows that Stalin gave his approval at the beginning of 1950. There are several reasons for his change of mind: Stalin may have been more hopeful about the chances of world revolution. Stalin knew the US was turning Japan into a strong anti-Communist base. If Stalin could gain control of South Korea, this could secure the Soviet position in Asia. * Stalin’s support was key to enabling the invasion to take place. Soviet commanders were involved in all aspects of the preparation and execution of the attack.

What was the role of Mao? When Kim Il Sung visited the People’s Republic of China, Mao was initially skeptical about the success of the invasion, but gave his approval because Kim fostered the impression that Stalin was more enthusiastic than he actually was.

Results of the Korean War NSC – 68’s recommendation to triple the defense budget was implemented. U.S. land forces in Europe were strengthened. NATO was strengthened. The need for West Germany to become armed and integrated into NATO was given top priority. The Treaty of San Francisco with Japan was signed in 1952. It enabled the US to maintain military bases in Japan. The US focused on building up Japan to make it a bulwark against Communism. Defending Taiwan was a priority. China was isolated by the US. The US was even more committed to resisting Communism in Asia – Philippines and Vietnam.

Effect on Korea The Korean War was relatively short but exceptionally bloody. Nearly 5 million people died. More than half of these–about 10 percent of Korea’s prewar population–were civilians. (This rate of civilian casualties was higher than World War II’s and Vietnam’s.) Almost 40,000 Americans died in action in Korea, and more than 100,000 were wounded.

Effect on China Although isolated by the US, China’s reputation grew and it became a major power in the region. China ‘saved’ North Korea. This increased Mao’s reputation at home and strengthened the Chinese revolution. However, it also meant that valuable resources at home were diverted away from recovery to the war effort, and China’s aim of uniting Taiwan and China was more difficult.

Effect on the USSR The results of the Korean War were not good for the Soviet Union. The USA’s decision to triple its defense budget, rearm West Germany, maintain troops in Europe and fight Communism in Asia meant that the Soviet Union was now embroiled in an even more intense Cold War standoff than had existed in 1950.

Effect on the Cold War U.S. defense spending increased dramatically, 10% of American GNP in the 1950s. In Europe, there was increased military spending. In the Soviet Union, the Red Army increased from 2.8 million troops in 1950 to 5.8 million by 1955.