Korean War
Korean War
Korean War
1950-1953
Five Facts Video
KOREA BEFORE THE COLD WAR https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=h1wFrXKanC0
After the conclusion of WWII in September 1945, the Soviet Union declared war on
Japan; this was done in agreement with the United States.
Japan had ruled over Korea for more than 30 years.
To weaken Japan’s power, the SU liberated the northern part of Korea and the US occupied
the southern region.
By 1948, the relationship between the SU and US soured.
Neither the SU nor the US wanted to give up their influence in Korea; as a compromise,
Korea was split into two at the 38th Parallel.
North à Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Supported by the SU and Chinese Communist Party
South à Republic of Korea
Supported by the US and had democracy
US hoped the division would keep the peace and prevent the spread of Communism in Asia.
The goal was to have the split be temporary but neither side wanted to give up their control.
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HOW THE WAR BEGAN
After growing tensions, North Korea invaded South
Korea by crossing the 38th Parallel on June 25, 1950.
North Korea’s goal à Unite North and South Korea
under one government independent of foreign
influence.
North Korea saw the separation of the country as the
fault of unwanted American interference and they https://mholloway63.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/june-25-1950-the-korean-war-begins-
wanted to free South Korea from the grip of the US. after-north-korea-invades-south-korea.jpg
Containment policy
On June 27, 1950, the UN Security Council called on UN members to
support South Korea; the SU ambassador was absent.
“I have ordered United States air and sea forces to give the Korean
government troops cover and support.” –President Harry S Truman
Badly needed troops were sent in by the US and 15 other nations; this was
the first time UN troops fought together in a major conflict.
General Douglas MacArthur became the commander of the UN forces
in July 1950; the fighters were mostly from the US and South Korea. https://l.imgt.es/resource-preview-
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HOW THE FIGHTING WENT…
By September 1950, the North Korean troops
had taken everything but the southeastern tip
of Korea; fighting raged there for six weeks.
MacArthur and other military leaders came
up with a daring plan at a port city, which
allowed them to launch a surprise attack on
the North Koreans from behind their lines.
UN forces quickly drove the invading North
Koreans out of South Korea.
In just over a month, MacArthur captured the
North Korean capital of Pyongyang.
Soon, UN forces reached the Chinese-Korean
border. https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/vzeEOdEwGBbcBcTV7jyNpJMrQ1g=/640x480/filters:no_upscale()/PusanPer
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THE FIGHTING CONTINUES
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RESULTS OF AND AFTER THE KOREAN WAR
In one sense, the Korean War changed nothing since the
border between the two countries remained about the same
and the north remained Communist.
On the other hand, the Korean War pushed back the
invasion of the North Koreans, essentially maintaining South
Korea’s democracy and showing the world that the US was
ready to fight Communism’s expansion into non-Communist
nations.
After the war…
North Korea’s economy – already in trouble before the war –
was struggling; support from the SU and China wasn’t enough,
and there are still problems with jobs and housing today.
North Korea also remains under the rule of a strict Communist
dictatorship. https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-
public/thumbnails/image/2014/02/25/08/v4-North-Korea-at-night.jpg?w968h681
South Korea quickly ousted its leader after the war and
struggled with its economy for a while; during the Vietnam War,
SK gave support to the US, and that was rewarded with $200
million from the US, which boosted its economy.
South Korea continues to do well today.