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; the Domino Theory –if one country in a region became communist, others would quickly follow; USSR and China wanted communism to expand-The 38th parallel acted as a political border

•Soldiers from 16 nations (collectively under the United Nations but most from U.S.A.) were led by General Douglas MacArthur (hero from WWII).•North Korean troops reach the southern tip of South Korea•MacArthur then lands troops just south of the 38th parallel•North Korean troops are forced to retreat back into North Korea•U.N. forces push North Korean troops northward near China•Communist leaders in China view the U.N. attack as a threat•China warns that they will enter the war if the U.N. troops push any further (the warning is ignored)

Role played by outside forces

•November 1950 Chinese soldiers enter North Korea•Fighting continues for a year, with no victory; stalemate /deadlock•MacArthur suggests a plan to blockade the Chinese coast and bomb China•Truman refuses; and MacArthur is extremely unhappy•Truman fires MacArthur•Truman begins truce talks in July 1951 which continued through 1952•The war had become very unpopular (especially with American people)•As the Presidential election of 1952 draws near, the war is an important issue

Role played by outside forces

•Dwight D Eisenhower (Ike) runs for president•In his presidential campaign, Ike promises to end the war quickly•Ike wins the election and keeps his promise to bring an end to the war•A compromise with North Korea & China is made•Eisenhower warns that he was ready to use nuclear weapons. •North & South Korea remain two separate nations separated @ 38th Parallel•Americans are frustrated by the outcome of the war

Role played by outside forces

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); this zone is called the DMZ (demilitarized zone – meaning no military allowed in this area)

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

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

Division between North Korea and South Korea.

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