Before the Korean War
In 1945, Korea was freed from the Japanese and the U.S troops stayed in Korea until the next year. The country was then split into 2 at the 38th parallel. North Korea was Communist and South Korea was Capitalist. Just like in China, each side despised each other.
Causes of the Korean War
In 1949, Kim persuaded Stalin that he could conquer South Korea. Stalin did not think that America would get involved, so he gave his agreement. Stalin saw an opportunity to keep rolling the Cold War and trouble the U.S., but "at arm’s length," without coming face to face with the Americans. Kim Il Sung also went to see Mao Zedong to get his agreement. During 1950, Syngman Rhee, first president of South Korea, bragged about how South Korea was going to attack North Korea, so it eventually led to the North Korean invasion of South Korea. Truman realized that U.S. was in a competition for world domination with the Soviet Union. U.S. supporting South Korea, they were able to fight Communism without directly ambushing Russia. In April 1950, the American National Security Council provided a report suggesting that the U.S. renounce "containment" and start "rolling back" Communism. Truman believed that if one country fell into Communism then others would follow that same path. He was anxious that, if Korea fell, the Communists would capture Japan.
Significant Events of the Korean War
In June-September 1950, The North Korean People's Army easily defeated the Republic of Korea's army. They captured most of South Korea but U.S. sent their troops to aid South Korea. On September 15, 1950, the American General MacArthur led a United Nation amphibious landing at Inchon, South Korea. North Korea retreated and U.S. recaptured South Korea. By the next month, Macarthur invaded North Korea. He advanced further and boasted about the war being done by Christmas. On November 25, 1950, 200,000 Chinese troops attacked MacArthur. They had modern weapons which were supplied by Russia. On December 31, 1950, more Chinese troops entered the war and ambushed the Americans. They forced the Americans to retreat and now they recaptured North Korea and headed towards South Korea. On
25 November, 200,000 Chinese troops attacked MacArthur. They had modern weapons which were supplied by Russia. Then, on December 31, more Chinese troops entered the war and ambushed the Americans. They forced the Americans to retreat, recaptured North Korea and headed towards South Korea. Truman told MacArthur to stop. MacArthur was discharged for his criticism about Truman’s order. In 1953, Eisenhower became president and threatened to use the atomic bomb if China did not stop fighting. The Chinese agreed to an armistice, which was signed on July 27, 1953.
25 November, 200,000 Chinese troops attacked MacArthur. They had modern weapons which were supplied by Russia. Then, on December 31, more Chinese troops entered the war and ambushed the Americans. They forced the Americans to retreat, recaptured North Korea and headed towards South Korea. Truman told MacArthur to stop. MacArthur was discharged for his criticism about Truman’s order. In 1953, Eisenhower became president and threatened to use the atomic bomb if China did not stop fighting. The Chinese agreed to an armistice, which was signed on July 27, 1953.
Outcome of the Korean War
The political conference provided for by the armistice broke down in the preliminary stages. The interrogation of holding elections to unify Korea was mentioned, at the appeal of the United Nations, to a conference of foreign ministers of the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union at Geneva in 1954. No agreement was made. The war left both North and South Korea in destruction. Red China, although suffering gigantic casualties, appeared from the war stable than ever. Because the truce had settled nothing, it was mandatory to maintain a consistent alert against a new invasion attack. United States troops remained in Korea, although greatly deflated in number. A particularly severe problem was that North Korea, in violation of the armistice agreement, rearmed its troops with modern weapons. Years after the truce was signed, North and South Korea were still armed camps. United Nations representatives continued to meet with the North Koreans, but there was little progression toward arranging the issues that had caused the war. North Korea and South Korea ended up being divided, along the same line, the 38th parallel, as they were after WWII. The South gained a little land above the 38th on the eastern side of the peninsula and the North gained a little land below the 38th on the western side.