THE KOREAN WAR“The Forgotten War”

IN THE BEGINNING… Japan had annexed Korea in 1910 until

August 1945

38th Parallel: Surrender to the Soviets (N) or the Americans (S)

Development of two nations Communist vs. Democratic

SOUTH KOREA VS. NORTH KOREA 1948

Republic of Korea United States Led by Syngman

Rhee Based in Seoul

Korea’s traditional capital

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Led by Kim Il Sung

Based in Pyongyang

South Korea North Korea

• After WWII, the U.S. cut back its armed forces in South Korea

• June 1949: only 500 troops in

South Korea

• Soviets concluded that the U.S. wouldn’t fight to defend South Korea and prepared to take over the entire peninsula

NORTH KOREA ATTACKS June 25, 1950: North Korea surprise

attacks

South Korea called on the United Nations to stop North Korean invasion

UN Security Council vote passed

June 27 : President Truman orders troops from Japan to South Korea and American fleet to waters between Taiwan and China

IN ALL... 16 nations sent 520,000 troops to aid

South Korea

Over 90% American

South Korea had 590,000 troops

Combined forces were placed under the command of General Douglas MacArthur (WWII hero in the Pacific)

UNITED STATES FIGHTS IN KOREA

After a month, North Koreans had forces UN and South Korean troops into a small defensive zone around Pusan

September 15, 1950: MacArthur launches counterattack at Inchon North Korean troops surrender or move back

over the 38th parallel

CHINA FIGHTS BACK

Foreign Minister Zhou En-lai warned that his country would not stand idly by and “let the Americans come to the border”

November 1950: 300,000 Chinese troops joined North Korea’s side of the war

Chinese wanted a Communist buffer state

January 1951: UN and Soviet troops pushed out of North Korea

Chinese capture Seoul

MACARTHUR WANTS CHINESE ATTACK

1951: MacArthur calls for an extension of the war into China

Usage of Nuclear weapons

President Truman rejects MacArthur's proposal Soviet Union mutual-assistance pact

Instead, the U.S. Eighth Army retakes Seoul

MACARTHUR VS. TRUMAN MacArthur continues to encourage full-

scale war of China

April 11, 1951: Truman announces the firing of MacArthur

69% American public backed MacArthur

Public opinion swings around to agree with Truman

SETTLING FOR A STALEMATE

June 23, 1951: Soviet Union unexpectedly suggests a cease-fire

July 1951: Truce talk begins

July 1953: two sides sign an armistice ending the war

1. Location of the cease-fire line at the existing battle line

2. Establishment of a demilitarized zone between opposing sides

IN THE END… Positives= North Korean invaders had

been pushed back and no atomic weapons used

Negatives= Korea was still two nations

Cost: 54,000 American lives $67 billion Increased fear of communist aggression