Wars in Korea

Wars in Korea

• WWII ended and Korea was split at 38th Parallel– N of line – Japanese surrendered to USSR

• Communist gov’t• industrial

– S of line – surrendered to Americans• Non-Communist• rural

Divided at 38th Parallel

• 1949 – USSR and US withdraw most of their troops– Soviets supply N. Koreans w/tanks,

airplanes, $ to take over South– Gamble that US won’t defend S. Korea

War in Korea

• June 25, 1950 N. Koreans cross 38th parallel• Truman convinced they are repeating Hitler

– Tested containment– Truman responded

• S. Koreans approach UN– USSR absent– International force sent to Korea

• Led by Douglas MacArthur

Standoff at 38th Parallel

• N. Koreans continue advance• Sept. 1950 controlled entire peninsula

except Pusan• MacArthur launches attack at Inchon

– Catches N. Koreans between forces– Half of N. Koreans surrender

• UN forces push into N. Korea– Nov. 1950 - Close to Chinese border (Yalu

River)• Chinese feel threatened

– Oct 1950 - Send 300,000 troops into N. Korea

– Outnumber UN forces– Jan 1951 push UN back to S. Korea

Fighting Continues

• Chinese capture capital of Seoul– MacArthur calls for nuclear attack– Truman says too reckless– MacArthur went to Congress– Removed from position by Truman

• 1952 – UN regains S. Korea• July 1953 – Ceasefire signed

– Border established at 38th Parallel

• Korea remains divided• Demilitarized zone created• N. Korea

– Kim Il Sung established collective farms• Developed heavy industry• Built up military

– 1994 – Kim Jong Il takes over• Develops nuclear weapons• Serious economic problems

Aftermath of War

• S. Korea– Prosperous economy

• Supported by US and other nations– 1960s concentrated on developing industry

and expanding trade– Primarily dictators– 1987 adopts democratic constitution– US has troops there still

Casualties in the Korean War

780,000500,000

70,000

30,000

4,500

NK & Chinese soldiersand civilians

SK civilians

SK soldiers

USA soldiers

Other UN soldiers

By 1950 had Containment worked???

• Most Americans agreed with containing communism

• Some wanted a more aggressive policy like MacArthur

• More alliances were set up that were anti-Communist