The Korean War (Study Notes)

General Points:
Asia saw the bloodiest episodes in the Cold War. In the Korean War 34,000 Americans were killed.
Over 1 million civilians died
The US and Soviet involvement in the Korean War was due, at least in part, to a misunderstanding
about the area of containment that the USA had created in the Far East.
In Korea the initial aim of US and UN forces was to end the Northern Invasion of the South. By the
autumn of 1950 this had been achieved, but General MacArthur then went beyond this objective
and invaded North Korea.
In 1950, when North Korea invaded the South, Truman sent in US troops immediately. He did not
even wait for UN or congressional approval. As a result, US involvement in Korea was a police action
not a war.
The war in origin was a civil war, but it became an issue of ideological conflict with the context of
superpower rivalry of the Cold War.

Historian Points
As noted by Gaddis, Kim appeared to have informed Stalin of Maos enthusiasm, thereby achieving
the act of having exaggerated to both the Russians and the Chinese: the degree to which each
supported what he himself wanted to do.
As noted by Weathersby, it was not the invasion of South Korea itself but rather the perception of
what this event signified about Soviet intentions that so galvanised the American government.
According to new archives when it came for the final order to proceed, Mao got cold feet. Gaddis
said Mao had taken intense pressure from Stalin to push him into this.
As noted by Wingrove (Orthodox), this was an unnecessary war, for which the responsibility mainly
lies with Stalin.
As noted by John W. Lewis, Stalin encouraged Kim to attack South Korea while cleverly manipulating
Mao into backing him. Meanwhile he was not physically involved.
As pointed out by Sergei N. Goncharov, Stalins manipulations did not serve him well. The war,
which he encouraged, resulted in a massive rearmament program that led to an actual decline in
Soviet Security.
According to Gaddis, Stalin was the least aware of the long term consequences out of all the leaders.
For it was he that gave the North Koreans the green light to invade South Korea, yet he cannot have
- Bolded = Important places, dates, names
- Highlighted = Important points

intended the results that would flow through from this single act e.g. the unanticipated American
intervention.
Origins of the War:
Elections were held in 1948 and the Republic Of Korea was formally established in the South under
the government of staunchly anti-communist Syngman Rhee.
The North became the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea led by the popular Kim Il Sung.
In 1949 the USA and USSR withdrew their troops from Korea as previously agreed.
Chinas Involvement
Mao himself was planning an invasion of Taiwan and had requested Soviet military assistance.
Stalin, after the initial reluctance had encouraged the Chinese to go ahead.
With the guarantee of Soviet air cover Mao sent 200,000 to defend North Korea, the UN forces were
pushed to a rapid retreat.
It may be argued that the intervention of the Chinese in October 1950 was more of a defence of
North Korea against the western offensive, than of any attempt to expand.

Americas Involvement
Korea was initially excluded from the USs defensive perimeter
The Americans viewed Soviet actions in Korea as the start of an attempt to spread communism
throughout south-east Asia.
If America had done nothing to intervene, American prestige would be severely damaged around
the world. This loss in world confidence in US aid, in turn could lead to other areas falling under the
influence of communism.
The Korean War did not see a loss of prestige for with the US or the UN. The UN had demonstrated
the ability to exert its authority. The US had also shown that it was ready to contain communism
anywhere around the world.
USA secured the commitment from sixteen countries to send troops under the UN banner to help
South Korea.
UN forces were led by staunch anti-communist General Douglas MacArthur.
President Trumans statement about the dismissal of General Douglas Macarthur was very
important in the context of the Korean War as it avoided the possibility of a nuclear confrontation
with China. Had General MacArthur gone through with his decision the Chinese would have
retaliated with disastrous consequences for the whole world.


Stalins Involvement

Reunification of Korea through war was raised as a serious possibility when Kim Visited Moscow in
March 1949. However Stalin was not keen to support a North Korean invasion at this point. He
noted that the North Korean army was smaller than that of the South Korean Army. Stalin also
noted that the US army was still in Korea and would interfere in the case of hostilities.
However, by April 1950 Stalin had a change of heart; he was encouraged by the fact that US troops
had departed the south. Also the communist victory in China in 1949 had improved the environment
in Korea.
Stalin felt that the Chinese troops could be utilised in Korea. He also felt that the Chinese victory
would make the Americans even more hesitant to challenge the communists in Asia.
Stalins mood was reinforced by the fact that the USSR now had the atomic bomb.
Stalin would not provide direct military aid to the North, but when Kim requested volunteer units in
China Stalin was too eager to assist.

Events
On June 25 1950 military forces from North Korea attacked the South.
By September the South Korean forces had been pushed back to Pusan but the North Korean army
was now outnumbered by the arrival of US troops.
On 30 September South Korean troops crossed the 38
th
parallel and entered the North. MacArthur
marched onwards towards the Yalu River, which marked the border with China.
By the end of 1950 North Korea had retaken all land north of the 38
th
parallel.
In early 1951 the communist forces pushed south of Seoul. To break the stalemate MacArthur called
for Atomic bombs to be used against China. Truman sacked Macarthur in result of this in April 1951
and was replaced with General Matthew Ridgeway.
By July 1951 both sides were ready to open peace talks in Kaesong.
In 1952 Eisenhower won the presidential election in the USA on the slogan I shall go to Korea.
On 27 July 1953 an armistice was finally agreed.

Results of the War
North Korea had prevented the West from destroying communism
The West had saved South Korea from communism.
Both North and South Korea had become pawns in the superpower conflict.
China had shown its military potential and had emerged as a third superpower.
As Soviet propaganda pointed out the UN was a tool of US policy.
US government saw the need to develop and use a wide range of strategies to help governments
facing the threat of communism.
As a result of Stalins actions the Truman administration now implemented NCS 68s
recommendation to triple the American defence budget, to station American troops permanently in
Europe and to rearm the West Germans.

Definitions:

38
th
Parallel: The border between North and South Korea, created by the USA and USSR in 1945.

Key Figures:

Kim IL Sung: Founder and leader of North Korea during the Korean War

Mao Zedong: Leader of the Chinese Communist Party from the 1920's until his death in 1976 and
Leader of the Peoples Republic Of China from 1949 to 1976. He sent the Chinese Volunteer Army
to support North Korea in the Korean War.

Syngman Rhee: Leader of South Korea during the Korean War

Quotes

Naked Soviet aggression
NSC-68 Report (America) Accusing the Kremlin to impose its absolute authority over the rest
of the world.