Why do you think the Korean War is sometimes referred to as the Forgotten War?

Often referred to as the "forgotten war" because it came on the heels of World War II and was overshadowed by the Vietnam War.

What was the impact of WWII on Korea? Why was Korea a hotbed of conflict during the 20 th century? What were the results of the Korean War?

What impact did WWII have on Korea? Think about the various governments in place in Asia.

After WWII, Korean Peninsula divided into North and South Korea at the 38 th Parallel The Republic of South Korea established 1948 US helping South and Soviet Union helping North

Conflicts and strained relations between the US and the USSR led to the Korean War which devastated the whole country.

When the Communist troops of North Korea crossed the 38th Parallel on June 25, 1950 and invaded South Korea, the US became involved because of a promise to support South Korea. It was feared that this tiny peninsula would be the setting for the eruption of World War Three.

The United Nations joined forces with the US and South Korea to stop the invasion.

North Korea had the support of the Soviet Union and the military support of China. China and the Soviet Union wanted to maintain communism near their borders.

Korea like Vietnam, was part of the Cold War to stop the advancement of Communism in Southeast Asia.

In July of 1951, peace talks began between the UN and the Communists. The UN hoped for a quick resolution; however, that was not to be. The talks dragged on for two years and 17 days; and all during that time the war continued.

The UN and North Korean leaderships finally signed an agreement on July 27, This agreement technically brought the war to an end, but a state of hostilities continued to exist between North and South Korea for many years, and even today the situation remains unresolved.

Because the Korean War only lasted three years ( ) it is not thought of as significant, and often not even mentioned. Korean War Memorial

However, if one compares the statistics of the Korean War (54,246) to those of Vietnam (58,226) which lasted over sixteen years, by ratio the Korean War was far bloodier than Vietnam. Korean War Memorial

Results of Korean War … Nothing gained … many died! North and South Korea still divided. North Korea still communist. South Korea still a republic. Still the two are bitter enemies.

However … the US did meet its objective … they did stop the advancement of Communism into South Korea!

North and South Korea Today … The DMZ

The Demilitarized Zone (or DMZ) is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula. The DMZ serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea. Seoul, with a population of approximate 10 million is located within a couple of miles from it.

Scenes from the DMZ

A ten-foot-high barbed-wire fence runs along the southern side of the DMZ. The sign atop the hill flashes patriotic slogans in an attempt to demoralize North Korean border guards.

Tunnels that have been found – North Koreans trying to dig under the DMZ wall.

What was the impact of WWII on Korea? Why was Korea a hotbed of conflict during the 20 th century? What were the results of the Korean War?

What do you think … did the US and UN meet their objective in the Korean War?

38 th Parallel – line of latitude where North and South Korea divided DMZ – demilitarization zone … a buffer between North and South Korea

So what are North Korea and South Korea like today??? North Korea  Population: 22,665,345 of homogenous Korean  infant deaths per 1,000  Buddhist & Confucianism practiced.  99% of population literate  Communist state one man dictatorship  Command economy with 1, GDP per capita  Labor force: agriculture: 37%, industry and services: 63% (2004 est.)  Issues: deforestation, lack of drinking water, hazardous waste, pollution.  Climate: temperate with more rain in the summer than the winter. South Korea  Population:48,508,972 homogenous Korean  4.26 infant deaths per 1,000  Primarily Christian & Buddhist  97.9% of the population is literate  Republic with a president  Mixed economy with a GDP per capita of 27,700  Labor force: agriculture: 7.2%, industry: 25.1%, services: 67.7%  Issues: air & water pollution, acid rain  Climate: temperate with more rain in the summer than winter 

North Korea & South Korea