The Cold War goes Global: The Korean War And NSC-68

The Korean War And NSC-68

Who were the key players of the Korean War?

Kim Il Sung Syngman Rhee

Chairman Mao

Josef Stalin

Harry Truman Douglas MacArthur

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X7nbwFxGRU

Prelude to the Forgotten War

After WWII the U.S. demobilized their armed forces…WHY?Defense budget was lowered from

$82 billion to approximately 13 billion

At the end of WWII the US had 12 million enlisted men, by the time Korea began the US had less then 2 million active duty soldiers

China fell to Communism in 1949, the same year the Soviets get their A Bomb

Background to the Korean War

• Japan annexed Korea in 1910

• The USSR and USA decided that Korea would be split into two countries along the 38th parallel

• This was suppose to be a temporary change (similar to Germany)

• Soviets left N. Korea in ‘48 and the USA left S. Korea in ‘49

The First “Hot War” On June 25, 1950 North Korea

invades South Korea in the hopes of unifying the peninsula under Communist rule

South Korean forces were pushed all the way down to Pusan

After a UN resolution 15 countries came to the aid of South Korea (USSR boycotted the vote which could have vetoed any UN action)

Major turning point: MacArthur’s amphibious assault at Inchon

Changing policieso After MacArthur's success at Inchon, it was decided that the US would

“rollback” North Korea from communist ruleo This strategy would end once UN forces reached the Yalu River where 200,000

to 500,000 Chinese soldiers joined the war on behalf of the North Koreans sending UN forces into rapid retreat

o Why did they become involved? o As a result Truman is forced to fire Truman for:

1. Disobeying Truman’s orders to stop short of the Yalu River and for engaging the Chinese after Truman ordered him not to

2. Making it public that the United States should use nuclear weapons against Chinaa. ironically Truman would eventually threaten China with nuclear weapons in

order to force an armistice

What were the effects of the Korean War on the countries involved?

Korea Approximately 5 million Koreans lost their lives. North Korea stayed under Communist control, while the South has become a flourishing capitalist society

ChinaChina gets street credit in the region for “saving” North Korea. Origins of a rift between the USSR and China because the USSR gave minimal support to China and the N. Koreans

USSR The US decided to triple its military spending (NSC-68) and presence in the region. US also builds up West Germany

USA NATO strengthened (Greece and Turkey) , increase military, now we don’t ever leave anywhere, Treaty of San Francisco, SEATO, China condemned by the UN

Kim Il Sung’s Role

Both Kim Il Sung and Synghman Rhee wanted to unify the peninsula

According to Rogers, Kim annoyed Stalin until he gave his approval but warned Kim to not expect Soviet assistance

Stalin’s role This is the most controversial out

of all the leaders roles in Korea. Rogers believes that although Stalin wanted worldwide revolution, and was concerned about the America’s impact in Japan, he was not the orchestrator of the beginning of the Korean War.

Other historians like Gaddis and the military channel believe Stalin was the one who ordered North Korean forces into invading South Korea

Chairman Mao Mao was taken off guard

by the invasion of South Korea.

Mao was more intent on invading Taiwan than becoming involved in this war

Mao becomes involved after he becomes worried that the U.S. will invade Communist China

http://www.valourcanada.ca/learning-centre/monumental-canadians/2-ppcli-kapyong-1951/