Korean War

Last updated Sep 23, 2022 Edit Source

• History

• Willing to use force to unify Korea
  • USA thought Rhee was rash
  • USA did not want to be in a war
  • Only gave Rhee light weapons to prevent him from waging war

• Persuaded Stalin to help rebuild NK and supply weapons
  • NK had much stronger military than SK
  • USSR did not want to fight USA
  • USSR was not involved directly

• Kim II Sung’s Government well-establised
• North-Korean army (NKPA) well-trained
  • USSR left in Dec 1948
• USA stayed to bolster South-Korean defences
  • USA left in June 1049

Both USA and USSR did not plan to be invested in Korean affairs

• After this, communist China formed
• Sino-Soviet treaty so China could help NK
• “Defensive Perimeter” speech did not include SK
• Successful USSR atomic bomb, USA could no longer use atomic bomb as a threat

Stalin changed his mind, sending equipment and CN sent soldiers that had fought in CN’s civil war, giving NK a strong advantage over SK

• Sent economic aid as it was thought to be more effective in fighting communism
• Did not give Rhee strong military
  • Prevent invasion by SK to NK and dragging USSR and CN into conflict
• Did not want to give Rhee the impression that USA would help in a war

SK had weaker militar

• In July 1949, SK attacked NK’s west coast fleet, provoking NK into a fierce battle and causing many casualties
  • Showed SK’s inability to launch successful attacks
• USA did not want to be involved in a Korea War
  • Rhee’s actions made USA reluctant to send heavy weapons to SK

By mid-1950s, NK expected a swift victory, but eventually did not achieve it

• USSR helped to train NKPA, making it very strong
  • Able to push SK forces to the Southeast corner of SK

• United Nations permitted SK forces to enter NK
• Chinese Premier Chou En-Lai warned USA that they would send forces if USA crossed 38th parallel
  • CN sent forces into NK, pushing SK’s forces back across the 38th parallel

• USA convinced that NK was influenced by USSR to invade SK
  • Truman believed Stalin wanted to use invasion of SK to further spread communism, targeting Japan and other Asian countries next (Domino Theory)
  • Thought USA’s involvement in KW was essential in Global Containment as said in NSC-68

Justified USA’s militarisation policy in East Asia

• USA believed UN would lose credibility as an organisation which protected international security if it did not stop communist aggression
  • USA rapidly mobilised UN forces, which saw initial success under General MacArthur, driving NK back to the 38th parallel

SK forces were dependant on UN and USA’s aid

• USA, UN, CN had heavy casualties and wanted to end KW
  • Rhee and Kim still wanted to unify Korea
• SK and NK need external help to continue the war
  • Forced to participate in talks when external help was no longer given

• Couldnt agree on where to draw the border of NK and SK

• Persuaded Rhee to sign the armistice, threatened CN and NK that USA would not hesitate to use Nuclear weapons if they did not sign the armistice
• NK and CN reluctantly agreed as it was taking a toll on their military, economic and human resources

New boundary with demilitarised zone drawn near 38th parallel, and heavily guarded by USA, SK and NK troops

• Could use Korea to increase communist influence in Asia-Pacific
  • Korea close to both CN and USSR, and could conteract USA’s influence on Japan

• Korea was the first time a 3rd party was used as substitutes for direct confrontation between USA and USSR
  • USA and USSR frequently sent aid to non-communist countries, taking sides in local conflicts (Vietnam, Cuba)

CW rivalry manifesting in many parts of the world, without USA and USSR having direct military confrontation

• USA believed USSR wanted to take control of Asia-Pacific
  • Feared that Domino Theory would be fulfilled
    • Economic reconstruction of Japan as they thought a weak economy would increase communist popularity
    • Only increased efforts in Japan after start of KW, using Japan as an important source of military supply for USA’s forces inSK, boosting the defence in Japan too
  • Set up Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation

• NATO militarised as KW was seen as communist aggression
  • Had to develop strategies against the communist bloc
  • USA’s defence expenditure increased, more members like Turkey join NATO
  • Military exercises in NATO held

There was perceived need to strengthen European military defences due to KW

• Established between USSR and East European satellite states
  • Members must aid each other if any member is attacked by an external party
  • Set up a unified military command under USSR