2. Overview of
Korean War

3. History of Korea Korea is a country that has a long history
There have been many different dynasties and kingdoms in its history
Silla
Baekje
Gogureo
Gaya
Balhae
Joseon
And many others

4. Between super powers
Korea has a long history of being next to very powerful neighbors

5. Korea was attacked (and defeated) Japan a few times in its history

6. Japan became industrialized
In 1853 Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Japan
Japan saw the USA’s technology and they wanted to become industrialized

7. Japan built themselves up
The Meiji Restoration (1868) put a big focus onto becoming stronger through industrialization

8. Japan took over Korea
Japan took over Korea

9. Japan did not treat Koreans well
They tried to eliminate the Korean language
Hundreds of thousands of girls/women were forced into prostitution for the Japanese army
Hundreds of thousands of boys/men were forced into the Japanese army
There were many unsuccessful rebellions

10. 38th parallel Korea was a Japanese colony during WWII
When Japan lost the war, Russian and American troops liberated Korea
The Russians and Americans decided that Korea should be divided at the 38th parallel in 1945
North Korea
38th parallel
South Korea

11. Question: What is a “puppet government?”
Puppet Governments
The U.S. administered the South and put an anti-communist, pro-American leader in charge
The USSR administered the North and put a Communist leader in charge
Russians and Americans withdrew troops from this area in 1948 and 1949
Question: What is a “puppet government?”

12. In 1949 China became Communist. Why is this fact important to Korea?
Important to the U.S.?
North Korea
South Korea

16. Both Northern and Southern leaders wanted to unite the country – but with different types of government.
Kim Il Sung (North Korean leader) understood that resolving the problem of unifying the two Koreas was very difficult -- that he would need help. Of course the help he was hoping to get would come from the Soviet Union or China.
Kim Il Sung
and
Mao Zedong

17. Attack!!!
1950- NK invaded SK with 90,000 troops equipped with Soviet weapons & tanks
Afraid that Korea would fall to Communism like China, the U.S. began to rush in troops.
The U.S. brought the Korean situation up with the U.N.…
The Russians were boycotting the U.N, so the U.S. convinced the UN to authorize a ‘police action’ to help the South Koreans.
About 90% of troops were American

19. Why American Involvement?
President Truman "Korea is a small country, thousands of miles away. But what is happening there is important to every American. The fact that communist forces have invaded Korea is a warning that there may be similar acts of aggression in other parts of the world ..."
The U.S. led UN forces pushed the North Koreans back to the 38th parallel and then kept going. They pushed all the way to the border of China…

20. After several more years of inconclusive fighting back and forth, a cease fire was signed.
Signed in 1953, it declared the 38th parallel once again as the break between the two countries.

21. Significance Reflects new American foreign policy of containment
Limited warfare (did not use atomic bomb)
Integrated Armed forces
Begin to see a dramatic increase in military spending & permanent mobilization
To this day, North & South Korea remain divided.
The U.S. has no formal diplomatic relationship with North Korea.

22. Permanent mobilization (American troops/military bases around the world 2007)