THE KOREAN WAR KIM IL SUNG the Great Leader,

The partition of Korea Korean had been a Japanese colony since 1910 Korean had been a Japanese colony since 1910 In 1945 the Big 3 at Yalta decided that Korea was to be partitioned at the 38 th parallel In 1945 the Big 3 at Yalta decided that Korea was to be partitioned at the 38 th parallel Soviets occupied the north, Americans occupied the south Soviets occupied the north, Americans occupied the south

North Korea In 1948 North Korea announced its independence as the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) In 1948 North Korea announced its independence as the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) The DPRK was a communist state led by Kim Il Sung and allied to the Soviet Union The DPRK was a communist state led by Kim Il Sung and allied to the Soviet Union

South Korea (ROK) South Korea announced its independence in 1948 as the ROK (Republic of Korea) South Korea announced its independence in 1948 as the ROK (Republic of Korea) The ROK was led by Syngman Rhee and was allied to the USA The ROK was led by Syngman Rhee and was allied to the USA

The Korean War begins On 25 June 1950, North Korea crossed the 38 th Parallel and invaded South Korea and rapidly seized Seoul and pushed south to surround Pusan by 14 September

Truman and the UN Truman took the issue to the UN Security Council Truman took the issue to the UN Security Council The USSR was boycotting the meeting in protest at the refusal to give the Security Council seat to the newly established People’s Republic of China The USSR was boycotting the meeting in protest at the refusal to give the Security Council seat to the newly established People’s Republic of China The Security Council voted to send a multi-national force to Korea under American command The Security Council voted to send a multi-national force to Korea under American command

MacArthur and the Inchon landing General Douglas MacArthur led the UN forces in Korea General Douglas MacArthur led the UN forces in Korea He successfully launched the Inchon operation on Sept 15 th 1950, which got behind the North Korean forces and liberated Seoul He successfully launched the Inchon operation on Sept 15 th 1950, which got behind the North Korean forces and liberated Seoul

Why did the United Nations’ forces cross the 38 th parallel in October 1950 and what were the consequence s?

Despite the risk of a Chinese entry into the war, the US, along with the United Nations decided to cross the 38 th parallel into the north.

Truman’s NSC 68 (January 1950) Truman’s NSC 68 (January 1950) It was MacArthur’s broad authority to invade North Korea It was MacArthur’s broad authority to invade North Korea Truman: “MacArthur’s own decision” but historians largely agree that Truman allowed MacArthur to cross the 38 th Parallel ……….. Truman: “MacArthur’s own decision” but historians largely agree that Truman allowed MacArthur to cross the 38 th Parallel ……….. Why did they do this?

China In The Korean War Why, and with what impact for the course of the conflict, did the Chinese decide to enter the Korean War? For their own Security To ensure the survival of Communism To the Chinese, the presence of American troops on the Yalu was similar to that of Cuban Missiles in Cuba in 1962 for JFK. (Max Hastings) “We cannot stand idly by” Zhou En Lai, China’s Foreign minister

Chinese Intervention MacArthur drives the north, captures Pyongyang and reaches the Yalu river and Chinese Border MacArthur drives the north, captures Pyongyang and reaches the Yalu river and Chinese Border The Chinese cross the border and drive the UN forces to the south routing the US army’s 10 th Marine corps The Chinese cross the border and drive the UN forces to the south routing the US army’s 10 th Marine corps

China entered the Korean War – and lost one million soldiers in the conflict China entered the Korean War – and lost one million soldiers in the conflict The war was lengthened and Korea divided until today The war was lengthened and Korea divided until today The Korean people suffered over 2 million casualties The Korean people suffered over 2 million casualties The Truman Doctrine was extended to Asia The Truman Doctrine was extended to Asia The major consequences were..

North Korean propaganda against the United States

Stalemate Dec Truman dismisses MacArthur (April 1951) Truman dismisses MacArthur (April 1951) The war is locked in stalemate for the next two years The war is locked in stalemate for the next two years

To what extent was Korea a Limited War? Limited war - a conflict in which both parties refrain from utilizing all their available resources, including nuclear weapons Limited war - a conflict in which both parties refrain from utilizing all their available resources, including nuclear weapons Limited to the Korean peninsula and NOT in China or the USSR Limited to the Korean peninsula and NOT in China or the USSR.Truman not ready for a full scale war, nor ready to abandon Korea.Truman not ready for a full scale war, nor ready to abandon Korea For the Koreans it was not a ‘Limited War” …… For the Koreans it was not a ‘Limited War” ……

Stalemate Dec 1950 – 1951…..

The End of the War After winning the election in Nov 1952, new US President Eisenhower goes to Korea and arranges for armistice talks (which had gone on for almost two years) to be resolved. After winning the election in Nov 1952, new US President Eisenhower goes to Korea and arranges for armistice talks (which had gone on for almost two years) to be resolved.

Armistice at Panmunjom July 1953

The table where the armistice was signed in July 1953

Korea remains divided along the 38 th Parallel

A North Korean soldier at the 38 th Parallel with our guide and Lisa Cannon Oct 2007

North Korea under Kim Il Sung Kim purged all of his opponents in the 1950s Kim purged all of his opponents in the 1950s He developed an elaborate cult of personality He developed an elaborate cult of personality From 1953 to the mid 1960s the North Korean economy grew rapidly, far ahead of South Korea From 1953 to the mid 1960s the North Korean economy grew rapidly, far ahead of South Korea Kim promoted Juche, self reliance Kim promoted Juche, self reliance

The Hermit Kingdom Throughout the 1950s Kim Il Sung turned against the Soviet Union and has become more friendly with China Throughout the 1950s Kim Il Sung turned against the Soviet Union and has become more friendly with China The USA placed nuclear weapons in South Korea, the “nuclear umbrella” The USA placed nuclear weapons in South Korea, the “nuclear umbrella” North Korea became increasingly isolated North Korea became increasingly isolated

North Korean Girl cadets at Kim Il Sung’s mausoleum

Myself and Lisa at Kim Il Sung’s mausoleum Oct 2007

South Korea under Park Chung-he Syngman Rhee was overthrown in a student uprising in 1958 Syngman Rhee was overthrown in a student uprising in 1958 General Park Chung-he seized power in 1961 General Park Chung-he seized power in 1961 Park began to expand the economy to catch up with Japan Park began to expand the economy to catch up with Japan By late 1960s the South Korean economy was booming and she continues to be one of the great Asian ‘tiger’ economies By late 1960s the South Korean economy was booming and she continues to be one of the great Asian ‘tiger’ economies

Kim Jong-Il Kim Il Sung died in 1994 Kim Il Sung died in 1994 His son, Kim Jong-Il succeeded him His son, Kim Jong-Il succeeded him The older Kim remains president even though he is dead The older Kim remains president even though he is dead Kim Jong-Il continued his father’s policies and a personality cult glorifies him as “Dear Leader” Kim Jong-Il continued his father’s policies and a personality cult glorifies him as “Dear Leader”

Nuclear programme revived Kim revived North Korea’s nuclear policy Kim revived North Korea’s nuclear policy Six party talks were opened with Russia, China, Japan, South Korea and the US in 2009, but the US refused bi-lateral talks Six party talks were opened with Russia, China, Japan, South Korea and the US in 2009, but the US refused bi-lateral talks

Recent news….. Kim Jong-un succeeded his father in Kim Jong-un succeeded his father in He is the third and youngest son of Kim Jong-Il and was born in Sept or 1984 …. He is the third and youngest son of Kim Jong-Il and was born in Sept or 1984 ….