Korean War
Sam Rosenstone
&
Lee Potter
Background
• At the Potsdam Conference (July–August
1945), the Allies unilaterally decided to divide
Korea—without consulting the Koreans—in
contradiction of the Cairo Conference.
Appointed as military governor, General
Hodge directly controlled South Korea via the
United States Army Military Government in
Korea (USAMGIK 1945–48).
Background
• The united states and the soviet union were
involved in post war occupation of the Korean
peninsula. It was the same kind of occupation
as Germany.
• The US backed by the United Nation were on
the side of the south, and the North was
supported China and the Soviet Union.
Background
• President Truman announced that the US
would counter "unprovoked aggression" and
"vigorously support the effort of the [UN]
security council to terminate this serious
breach of peace."
Syngman Rhee
• He was the first President of South Korea
• Backed by the United States he lead South
Korea through the Korean war, with his strong
anti-communist ideals.
Kim IL-Sung
• He was the first communist leader of North
Korea. He led North Korea in the Korean War,
and will forever be known in North Korea as
the Great leader, and the Eternal President.
Division
• “In the North, the Soviets backed a Stalinist regime
under their client Kim Il-sung and created the North
Korean Peoples' Army, equipped with Russian tanks
and artillery. In the South, the chaotic political
situation resulted in an American-backed
administration under the presidency of Syngman Rhee,
whose openly declared aim was the imposition of
national unity by force. As a result of this stance, the
American-trained South Korean army was limited to a
lightly armed gendarmerie, lacking tanks, combat
aircraft and all but a small amount of field artillery.”
Causes
• The North Koreans believed that Syngman Rhee
of the south, crossed the 38th parallel which
provoked a North Korean counter attack into
South Korea to capture Syngman Rhee,
• 25th of June 1950
• This was considered an unprovoked attack by
North Korea which lead to US military
involvement
Conflict
• “After several years of increasingly bloody frontier
incidents along the 38th parallel, the Republic of Korea was
invaded by the North Korean Peoples' Army on 25 June
1950. Despite earlier indications, the Pentagon was caught
off-guard. As the North Koreans swept south,
overwhelming all opposition, the US called on the Security
Council to invoke the United Nations Charter and brand the
North Koreans as aggressors. This was done and member
states were called on to send in military assistance. The
first American troops were then sent in to stiffen resistance
against the invader. The British government responded at
once and elements of the Far East Fleet were soon in action
along the Korean coast, together with ships of
Commonwealth navies.”
Conflict
• “However, the North Koreans still advanced rapidly south,
aiming to take the vital port of Pusan. The American troops
hurriedly sent from occupation duties in Japan fared badly
against superior North Korean troops, but General Walton
Walker, commanding the 8th United States Army in Korea
(EUSAK), rallied his forces and held the Pusan bridgehead
as reinforcements began to arrive. These reinforcements
included two British battalions from Hong Kong, the
Middlesex and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and
an Australian battalion from Japan. Furthermore, a strong
brigade group was mobilised in England and several
thousand reservists were recalled to active duty. The 29th
Brigade set sail in October 1950, reaching Korea a month
later just as it seemed that the war was over.”
Chinese Intervention
• The Chinese fancied the idea of a North
Korean Communist state, so they defended
North Korea. Which resulted in the united
states and allied forces to fall back across the
38th parallel, after which armistice was signed
on 27 July 1953
Proxy War
• The Korean War (1950–53) was the first major
proxy war in the Cold War (1945–91), the
prototype of the following sphere-of-influence
wars such as the Vietnam War (1959–75). The
Korean War established proxy war as one way
that the nuclear superpowers indirectly
conducted their rivalry in third-party
countries. The NSC-68 Containment Policy
extended the cold war from occupied Europe
to the rest of the world.
Effects
• After the war the DMZ was formed, and united
states Immigration laws changed. The U.S.
Immigration Act of 1952 removed race as a
limiting factor in immigration, and made possible
the entry of military spouses and children from
South Korea after the Korean War.
• To this day the Koreas are still separated and
there is still tension.
• Bombardment of Yeonpyeong on 25th of
November 2010, was the most recent public
exchange of fire.
