6. What were the causes and results
of the Korean War?
Causes
•At the end of WWII – Allies divided Korea at the 38th parallel
38th Parallel• N. of line,
occupied by USSR
• S. of line, occupied by US
North Korea
•Kim Il Sung–Leader
•Communist
South Korea
•Syngman Rhee–Leader
•Democratic government
By 1949, both sides had withdrawn their troops.
•USSR supplied N. Korea with planes, tanks, $, etc.
•US left S. Korea without military supplies…
•Feared Rhee would invade N. if he had weapons
Phase 1: N. Korean Invasion
•N. K. Army crossed the 38th parallel
•Surprise attacked S.
Truman – containment policy
•Went to the UN
•UN forces went to South Korea
Phase 2: UN Offensive
•Gen. MacArthur surprise attacked behind enemy lines at Inchon
Phase 3: Chinese Intervention
• Chinese forces crossed the Yalu River, pushed the UN forces back behind the 38th parallel
1951—Stalemate
•Neither side was winning or losing
•MacArthur was fired by Truman for trying to expand the war & suggest atomic weapons
Results•Ceasefire
in 1953•Remained
divided at 38th parallel
North Korea
•Built up military
•Developed heavy industry
South Korea
•Rebuilt & prospered due to aid from US
•54,000 US soldiers died
•3 million Koreans dead, missing or wounded
•Korea was physically destroyed
•38th parallel heavily militarized