The Cold War: Development & Impact GloballyThe Korean War

1950-1953

The war was caused by external issues• Korea had been under Japanese occupation during WWII

– after Japan had lost the Allied forces and the Soviets agreed to divide Korea along the 38th parallel

• Most Koreans wanted unification• The Soviets occupied the North, and the US occupied the

South• The US created the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the South

under Syngman Rhee • In response the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

(DPRK) was founded in the North under Communist leader Kim Il-Sung

• North Korea wanted to expand its borders and communism into the south

• North Korea with support from the USSR and People’s Republic of China invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950

-Korean War was the result of both defensive and offensive reasons:

-South Korea was defending itself against a North Korean attack-North Korea provoked the war by crossing the border

-Was the result of political causes:-The US wanted to contain communism; USSR and China wanted communism to expand-The 38th parallel acted as a political border

Weapons & Technology

•Aircraft was the newest technology evolving in warfare at the time•First war to utilize the jet aircraft & saw some of the first helicopters used during a war•Helicopters used for medical evacuation •Fighter aircraft were primarily used fir air-to air combat against other fighters•Bombers used to attack the ground forces & buildings•Transport aircraft used to transport troops or equipment across distances•Reconnaissance aircraft used for surveying or observation missions •Weapons used by the US Army Infantry & US Marine Corps were basically the same types used in WWII

For Korea•Cost in human lives & property was vast •$67 billion (1953 dollars); $535 billion (2008 dollars) •Much of North Korean land was severely damaged due aerial bombing

For the US•NSC-68’s recommendation to triple the defense budget was implemented •US defense spending increased dramatically turning at around 10% of American GNP in 1950 •Heavy American casualties and many were taken as POW’s

Cost of the War

• The United States asked the UN the remove the North Koreans by force, claiming that their invasion was a violation of peace

• USSR could not veto the decision (boycotting); UN sent in troops in support of South Korea (15 UN countries); US comprised of 90% of the UN force

• July 1 troops arrived in Korea, soon joined by 15 other nations, although majority were American troops fought under UN commander American General Douglas MacArthur

• General MacArthur led the UN forces in an amphibious attack at Inchon (near Seoul) in order to bypass Korean troops & cut them off

• Within a month he retook Seoul & drove the North Koreans back to the 38th parallel

• Pushed North Koreans as far back as the Yalu River (Korean border w/ China)

• US redefined its war aims: Rather than just concentrating on a policy of containment, it decided on a policy of ‘rollback’ meant liberating North Koreans from Communist rule & reuniting Korea

• China became concerned for its own security • November 27,1950, a force of 200,000 Chinese joined 150,000

North Koreans & sent the UN troops into a rapid retreat

Role played by outside forces

Role played by outside forces •Pyongyang was recaptured in December

•End of 1950 North & their allies had retaken all land up to the 38th parallel•January 1951: UN forces recovered their technological advantage & the Chinese army was forced to retreat •The UN forces had technological superiority , but Chinese forces were larger in number•Mao provided unlimited numbers of ‘volunteers’ to defeat UN forces•MacArthur suggested the use of nuclear weapons against the Chinese Truman against this scared Stalin would retaliate by using it’s own nuclear weapons •MacArthur relieve of command in April 1951

•Battle lines stabilized near the 38th parallel stalemate 1951-1953•Main conflict: repatriation of POW’s US & UN argued for voluntary returns, Chinese would only agree if a majority of North Koreans would return voluntarily, but this did not happen

•Stalin did not want to accept a Communist defeat in Korea•His death in March 1953 = critical to the end of the Korean War •Power struggled ensued in Soviet leadership Korea no longer regarded as crucial to Soviet Power & influence •New US president was Dwight Eisenhower election was partly based on withdrawal from Korea •Therefore, the 2 main powers did not see Korea as vital to their interest

End of the Korean War

End of the Korean WarThe war ended in a ceasefire; there was no

victoryEnded on July 27th, 1953 with a truce;

armistice signedNorth Korea and South Korea remain dividedTensions still exist today

The Korean Armistice Agreement• Longest negotiated armistice in history

(negotiated over 2 years and 17 days)• 18 official copies; tri-lingual• Went into effect at 10 pm on July 27th, 1953• Signed by US Army Lt. Gen. William K. Harrison,

Jr., UN Command Delegate, North Korean Gen. Nam Il, and volunteers from the People’s Republic of China

• Purely a military document (no nation is a signatory)

The Korean Armistice Agreement:

1. Suspended open hostilities2. Withdrew military forces and equipment

from a 4000 meter wide zone (created a buffer between the two zones)

3. Prevented both sides from entering the air, ground, or seas on opposing sides

4. Released POWs5. Establishes the Military Armistice

Commission (MAC) + other agencies – used to ensure that the truce terms were followed

Division between North Korea and South Korea.

POWsA committee of representatives of neutral

countries was established to decide the fate of the POWs: The Neutral Nations' Repatriation CommissionCzechoslovakia, India, Poland, Sweden, and

SwitzerlandMany Chinese and North Korean POWs did not

want to return to their life under communism; staged a violent protest

Decided that they could choose their own fate: either stay or return to their home land

September 1953: 88,559 POWs were exchangedThe Neutral Nations’ Repatriation Commission

took custody of POWs that refused to return home

Ceasefire ≠ Peace• The Korean Armistice Agreement was NOT a

peace treaty; North Korea and South Korea are still technically at war

• Was intended as a temporary measure• General Nam Il (signatory on behalf of North

Korea) said that it was a made to be a ceasefire “until a final peace settlement is achieved”

• Peace settlement never came• Attempt to make peace settlements occurred in a

conference in Geneva (1954); no agreements settled

• Tensions between the two nations are still high• Border between North Korea and South Korea is

the most heavily militarised border in the world

The Role of the UN• During negotiations, the UN made a command

for the exchange of sick or wounded POWs; Communists agreed

• After the armistice was signed, both sides charged each other of war crimes (torture, starvation of POWs); N.Korea and China accused of brain washing POWs – UN condemned such acts

• The Korean Armistice Agreement was signed by the UN and the Communists (N.Korea and China; South Korea not a signatory)

The Settlement Remains UnstableThe two nations still remain dividedHigh tensions still existProvocations from North KoreaPrecautions taken to ensure that the armistice isn’t

violated have fallen apartThe Neutral nations Supervisory Commission, originally

comprised of Sweden, Switzerland, Poland, and Czechoslovakia now only consists of Sweden and Switzerland

The role of the MAC has diminished (with North Korea's refusal to acknowledge South Korean Army general as the chief representative)

“The Korean War Armistice Agreement is both an important historical and currently relevant document for the security structure of the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia and beyond.” – Sarah K. Yun, Director of Public Affairs and Regional Issues for the Korea Economic Institute

Armistice agreement for the restoration of the south korean state (1953). (n.d.).

Retrieved from http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=85

Armistice ends the korean war. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/armistice-ends-the-korean-war

Armstrong, C. (2010, May 24). The korean war never ended. Retrieved from http://articles.cnn.com/2010-05-24/opinion/armstrong.north.korea_1_north-korea-kim-jong-korean-war-armistice?_s=PM:OPINION

Jets and aircraft of the korean war. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ellejet.com/jet-and-aircraft-of-the-korean-war.php

The korean war. (2005, April 25). Retrieved from http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/korea/kwar.html

The korean war summary & analysis. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.shmoop.com/korean-war/summary.html

Timeline: North korea – key events since the end of the korean war. (2010, November 23). Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/23/timeline-north-korea-south-korea

Signing of armistice ends korean war. (2012, July 27). Retrieved from http://www.newsinhistory.com/blog/signing-armistice-ends-korean-war

What the korean war cost the united states. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://historical.whatitcosts.com/facts-korean-war.htm

Works Cited And Consulted