Ohne Titel

The Korean War

USA

• At the time their president was Henry Truman
• They had an anti-communist ideology, especially after the communists took control of China in 1949.
• There were rumors of communism in Malaya, Indonesia etc.
• 1947- Truman Doctrine. This stated that America would political, economic and military assistance to combat communism. He asked for $400 million for this cause
• Had an arms race with the USSR. Both superpowers didn't was conflict. They recruited allies.

South Korea

• At the time it was being lead by Syngman Rhee
• Until 1945, Korea was ruled by Japan. At the end of the war, north was ruled by Russian soviet troops and south was ruled by Americans.
• South Korea had an anti-communist ideology

The initial invasion

• North Korea was by was ruled by Russian soviet troops- they were communist.
• As the south was ruled by the USA they were anti-communist.
• 1950- North Korean troops (with the USSR and then later on, China) overwhelmed the south. They left a small corner in south-east Korea.

Responses

• Truman sent help (advisers, supplies and warships) to the waters around Korea which put pressure on the UN security council.
• The UN were pressured to condemn the actions of the North Korean troops and to call them to withdraw their troops. America was the biggest financial contributor to the UN and therefore had a powerful position to influence their decision,
• Normally, the soviet union would have used it's right to veto to block any further action however, at the time the SU was boycotting the UN (because the US had blocked China's entry to the UN because they were communist).
• AS a result, no one could veto any further action.

The development of the war

• UN forces land in South Korea and attack the north. North Korea was outmanoeuvred and driven behind the 38th parallel.
• Even though America was told to stop pushing incase China got involved, they kept going.
• 200,000 Chinese troops then joined the war. UN was then pushed back
• 1951- peace talks between the north and south began but no progress was made. in 1952, Truman was replaced by eisenhower who wanted to see the end of the war.
• Stalins death made China and N.Korea less confident.
• Armistice was signed in 1953.