1. Korea in 2016
NORTH KOREA (The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea [DPRK])
Communist and run by a family dictatorship
Closed borders – none of its citizens can leave the country
No Free Speech or rights for its citizens.
SOUTH KOREA (Republic of Korea [ROK]
Democratic, capitalist and supported by America.
Freedom of speech and freedom of movement
American troops have a base in South Korea
Questions to ask yourself
Why is it split?
What caused it to split?

2. Was Korea a success or failure for the USA?
The Domino Theory – What is it? How does this link to containment? 2

3. CONTEXT Between 1910-1945 Korea was controlled by the Japanese.
When Japan was defeated in WW2 the Japanese soldiers surrendered to USSR soldiers in the North of Korea and to American soldiers in the south of Korea.
The Soviet and American zones were split along the 38th parallel

4. Proxy war – A war fought by two countries through other countries.3
The road to war
1948 – The North announces their own country too, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea under the leadership of Kim Il-Sung 2
1948 – Elections are held, but only in the south of Korea. The Republic of Korea is formed with its capital in Seoul.
A flashpoint of the Cold War 1
1947 – The UN calls for free elections for the whole of Korea.
Key Words
Flash point – a point where something happens between the USA and the USSR in the Cold War
Proxy war – A war fought by two countries through other countries.

5. China goes Communist in 1949
The Cold war was not just a conflict between the USA and the USSR – it was a conflict between capitalism and Communism.
China was the most powerful country in the Far East and it had the largest population in the world. The USA now faced another huge Communist power.
Step 1
China goes Communist in 1949

6. The USSR leaves the United Nations (UN)
Communist China was already a member of the UN, but its leader Mao Tse Tung wanted China to be on the UN Security Council, which was the part of the UN that made most of the decisions. The Security Council was dominated by capitalist countries. The USSR was the only Communist country on the council.
Stalin wanted China to be on the Security Council, but he was outvoted. Stalin was furious, and he pulled out of the UN in protest.
Step 2
The USSR leaves the United Nations (UN)

7. Communist North Korea invades South Korea in 1950
Meanwhile, Communism was gaining support in other parts of Asia. For example, Korea was divided into Communist North Korea and anti-Communist South Korea.
In 1950 North Korea invaded the South. By September 1950, it was about to defeat the South.
Step 3
Communist North Korea invades South Korea in 1950

8. The UN takes the side of the USA
Truman’s policy of containment: Truman felt that he could not allow Communism to take over South Korea. He managed to get the UN to condemn the North Korean invasion. He even managed to get it to send forces to help the South Koreans push the communists out of their country.
One of the main reasons he was able to do this was that the USSR was not there to object. It was still boycotting the UN over the issue of China’s membership.
Step 4
The UN takes the side of the USA

10. Read the short article and add details to the 5 maps - WWWWWH
Korean war overview
Read the short article and add details to the 5 maps - WWWWWH

11. Was Korea a success for containment?
Yes No
Maybe
Use the oxford textbook (scanned) to add more detail into each section.