The Korean War

1
The Korean War

• The Forgotten War
• 1950 1953

2
Early Origins

• 1910-1945 Korea was ruled by Japan
• After WWII it was divided into North South
  Korea
• By 1949, the U.S. began withdrawing troops while
  the Soviets increased supplies to North Korea to
  aid the invasion of South Korea

3
War Begins

• June 25, 1950 North Korea invades the South
• Truman fears repeating appeasement demands
  support for containment
• 1st armed confrontation of the Cold War

4
Role of the United Nations

• South Korea asks the U.N. for assistance
• Due to the Soviet boycott the position of China
  with Nationalist Taiwan, the Security Council
  agrees to help
• The U.N. sends 15 nations (including the U.S.,
  Britain Canada)
• Troops are led by General Douglas MacArthur

5
US UN Pushed to Pusan
6
Korean War

• By Sept 1950, the North controls the entire
  Korean peninsula except for Pusan
• MacArthur designs an attack at Inchon where the
  South Koreans force half of the North Koreans to
  surrender the rest to retreat (by attacking
  from Pusan in both directions)
• Inchon is risky but successful the South
  recaptures its capital at Seoul

7
U.N. U.S. Push to China
8
Chinas Involvement

• U.N. troops continue to push north to the Yalu
  River (border of China)
• China has warned that if the Yalu is breached, it
  will react China is worried of U.S. influence in
  Asia
• Oct 1950 the Chinese enter this becomes a war
  between China the U.S.
• The Chinese push troops South recapture Seoul
• Chinese unexpected entry turns the tide of the war

9
General MacArthur

• MacArthur threatens the use of the atomic bomb
  (but Truman disagrees)
• MacArthur goes to Congress (behind Trumans back)
  gt fired for disobedience
• Despite the fact that the U.S. enters the war
  without a declaration of war by Congress

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11
MASH

• Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
• 1st used in the Korean War
• Greatly reduced the casualties of war
• Books, movie TV series based on MASH units

12
End of the War

• By 1952, the U.N. has Seoul South Korea
• A stalemate ensues (see-saw fighting) by July
  1953, a cease-fire is signed
• Division remains at the 38th parallel
• Approximately 5 million die in this war
• 4 million Koreans 54,000 Americans (a
  significant amount considering the short time
  period of the war)

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Stalemate
14
Post War in North Korea

• Kim Il Sung promotes collective farms
• Development of nuclear weapons
• Economic problems of shortages of food energy
• 1996 troops enter demilitarized zone
• Current issues??

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Post War in South Korea

• Syngman Rhee (disputes over election results) but
  backed by U.S.
• South Korea prospers from U.S. aid
• 1960s develops industry trade
• 1980-90s one of highest economic growth rates
• U.S. maintains 40,000 troops here