The Korean WarThe Forgotten War

Where is Korea?Peninsula just north of China, connecting to

Russia, and west of Japan.Under Japanese control from 1910-1945

Why is it split?After WWII, U.S. and USSR agreed to hold

Korea until it could reform a government.US holds south, USSR holds northSplit along 38th parallelUSSR refused to cooperate with free elections;

set up Communist gov’t in north

How did war break out?Both sides want unificationBorder skirmishes from 1948-50North Korea invaded the South on 6/25/50

Almost complete takeoverSeoul taken within three days

Why did the U.S. get involved?Korea wasn’t important, but Japan wasBackground:

China fell in ‘49USSR got the bomb in ‘49Greece and Turkey threatenedAlger Hiss and Rosenbergs arrested for

treason

What happened?US troops were committed; retook South

Korea after key battle at Inchon9/29/50- Pushed NK back over 38th parallelPlan changes from containment to overthrow

of Communist gov’t10/20/50 – UN troops capture PyongYang

(capitol of NK)

“Unforgettable: The Korean War”http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOknJm1mEjI

What was the result?Borders didn’t changeUS begins massive buildup of military power

at homeChina has new pride after defeats by Japan

What are the Koreas like today?South Korea

Fast growing economy through ‘90s. Modern, democratic, industrialized.

North KoreaAll news controlled by gov’t100-200,000 prisoners in concentration campsNo freedom of speech, religionCannot move within country or abroadOnly elites own vehiclesDecisions on who to trade with in ‘90s resulted

in famine- up to 400,000 died

Public executions without trial for many offenses

Guilt by association: family can be imprisoned as well

Altogether – 1/5-2 million unnatural deaths in 40 years

Why is “The Forgotten War?”Not classified as a war- called a “police

action”Goals weren’t clear

WWII – stop Nazis from taking over the world; Japanese attacked us

Korea- contain Communism in place nobody has heard of

No resolution – still divided