The Korean Conflict

What is a civil war? A war between citizens of the same country

Before the War started  Korea had been an independent country since the 6 th Century  Due to the end of Japanese occupation in Korea in 1945 that also was the end of WWII, the United Nations called for elections in 1947 which led to the separation of the peninsula  In 1949, Communists captured Beijing which led to discontinued aid  Early 1950’s, People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union signed a treaty of friendship and alliance  US and Soviet Union work towards “trusteeship” before Koreans “ready” for self-rule  The north leans toward communism  The south leans toward conservative nationalism

Two Countries, One Nation  Rhee and Kim want a single country under their rule; both regard the other as illegitimate Sygmann Rhee emerges as the strongman, anti- communist leader of the South Republic of Korea (ROK) Democratic government Kim-Il Sung becomes the communist dictator of the North Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Communist government

June –September 1950September- November 1950

United Nations Involvement  United Nations Security Council demands North Korea to stop fighting and to withdraw…but they refuse  June 27 th - UN Security Council Resolution 83 recommending member states defend ROK  UN Security Council condemns the attack on Soviet Union. USSR boycotted this meeting  July 7 th - United Nations Security Council 84 places 15 UN states under US command in Korea

November January 1951

Truman fires MacArthur  MacArthur demanded approval to expand the war against China.  He asked for a blockade of Chinese ports, use of Chaing Kai-shek’s Nationalist forces, and the bombing of Chinese cities with atomic weapons.  President Truman refuses…So MacArthur publicly criticizes Truman.  So Truman fires him.

January 1951-July 1953 Change of Pace

Stalemate  July no significant changes in territory.  Peace negotiations in Panmunjom continue for two years, stalled over the issue of sending back POWs  DPRK and China want their soldiers sent back (even if they want to remain in South) Issue is eventually dropped to win a cease fire

Armistice  President-elect Eisenhower visits On November 29, 1952 to fulfill a campaign promise by going to Korea to find out what could be done to end the conflict  July 27, cease-fire:  Front line was back around the proximity of the 38th parallel  Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established around 38 th parallel, presently defended by North Korean troops on one side and by South Korean, American and UN troops on the other.  North Korea and the United States signed the Armistice Agreement

End Result  No permanent peace treaty was every signed even thought the armistice in 1953 was what seemed to end the “war”  American defense budget increased to $50 billion, the Army and Air Groups doubled in size and they were deployed outside American territory  Casualties  South Korea…………217,000 military  United States…… ,574  North Korea………..406,000  China……………….600,000  Over 600,000 civilian dead ROK and DPRK  As of April 2015, 7,800 American soldiers are still unaccounted for  Today Korea is still divided by a 2.5 mile wide demilitarized zone and tensions are still high since the North is communist and the South is Capitalist