The Korean War And The Soviet Union

One of the major conflicts in the 20th century was the Cold War. One of the key events of the Cold War was the Korean War (1949-1953). Essentially, the Korean War was a conflict between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), and the Republic of Korea (ROK). However, the DPRK was backed by Stalin’s Communist regime. While the ROK, was backed by US and UN forces. The support that the divided Koreas received demonstrates that this war was the direct result of Cold War tensions between the USA and the USSR. Therefore making this war a proxy war between the two superpowers.

The division of Korea into South Korea and North Korea was the result of the 1945 Allied victory in World War II, leaving the countries in disagreement with a 2.5 mile gap separating the countries. Following this, the Korean War occurred between North and South Korea, in which a United Nations force led by the United States of America fought for the South, and China fought for the North, making the USA an instant enemy of North Korea. In July 1953, the Korean War came to an end.

The Korean War was a defining part of the United States foreign policy in the Cold War Era and was a response to threats from the Soviet Union. The Korean War was a culmination of tensions between North and South Korea that had resulted from the influences the United States and the Soviet Union inculcated into the countries during their occupation. When the Korean War was initiated, by the invasion of South Korea by North Korea, the United States and their allies in the United Nations perceived the invasion as a bold communistic expansion effort that occurred without provocation. (Document A). Further validating this idea was the fact that the attack was endorsed by the USSR, and partially lead by Red China, both of which were communist countries

The United States had just ended World War II, and the conflict in Korea had

On June 25, 1950, the war began when North Korean soldiers poured across the 38th parallel, the boundary between North and South Korea. North Korea aimed to militarily conquer South Korea and unify Korea under the communist regime. Many feared it was the first step in a communist campaign to take over the world (Korean War in Stages). “If we let Korea down,” President Harry Truman said, “the Soviets will keep right on going and swallow up one place after another” (Lowe). The fight on the Korean peninsula was a symbol of the global struggle between east and west. When President Truman stated encountered Dr. Syngman Rhee, president of the South Korean Republic, in October 1948, he stated:

It was 21/2 miles (4 kilometers) wide along the final battle line. South Korea gained about 1,500 square miles (3,880 square kilometers) of territory. Both sides agreed not to increase their military strength. “The Forgotten War.” “Police Action.” The Korean War has endured many names over time. However, it was more importantly recognized as the first major conflict between the East and West, and an important milestone in the initial years of the Cold War. But this war had a most devastating toll. The Korean War was one of the bloodiest wars in history. Over a million South Korean civilians were killed and several million were made homeless. Approximately 580,000 UN and South Korean troops and approximately 1,600,000 Communist troops were killed, wounded or reported missing. For US Forces, over 33,600 dead and almost 100,000 wounded and missing in action, with US Air Force totals at 1,841 killed, wounded or missing in action. It’s important to note that no one service claim victory over another, but all made immeasurable contributions to the Korean War effort, with the Air Force no exception. Once again we must take this time to remember that Freedom is Not Free and to honor our fallen heroes. Time Line up to 14 July June 25 - Early morning - North Korean People's Army under General Chai Ung Jun, invades South Korea with seven assault infantry divisions, a tank brigade and two independent infantry regiments. United

The Korean War (1950-1953) emerged after World War II where the world powers at the time, the United States and Allies-UN Forces and the Soviet Union had conflicting visions for what the postwar world should look like. The shaping of the Korean Peninsula was first on their agendas. The Soviet Union vision was to unify Korea through the expansion of Communism, which made sense strategically with Communist China and the Soviet Union in Korea’s backyard. However, the unification of Korea would only happen via civil war. North Korea would have to invade South Korea and inflict their will by means of armed force. Conversely, as one can imagine the UN-Forces vision was to prevent the expansion of Communism and unify North and South Korea in a single country protected by the United States. (Alexander, 2013) Over a period of three years, the conflicting world powers would duke it out. North Korea would strike first by engaging in civil war and South Korea with UN Forces assistance would help stop their onslaught. Next, uninformed the UN Forces would head into North Korea on the offensive, only to be met by prepared communist forces, which leads to retreat of the UN Forces and ultimately a stalemate. (Hammel, 1981)

President Truman, going by his containment policy, sent US air and naval forces to help South Korea. The UN also asked its members to help South Korea. On June 30, Truman ordered the first ground troops to go to South Korea. General Douglas Macarthur was the commander of the ground forces. Congress supported Truman but didn't officially declare war on North Korea. Other troops from UN nations began soon after the US. Part of the US army on July 1, came from Japan to southernmost Korea at Pusan. Soon, these troops very moving close to south of Seoul. The first fight that took place between the US and North Korea was at Osan, south of Seoul. North Korea had already surpassed Seoul. On July 7, Truman named General MacArthur the commander of UN Commands. He had control over all of the forces in South Korea. By August 2, the North Korean army had advanced to the Pusan Perimeter. The Pusan Perimeter was on the southeast corner of South Korea. This was one of the many turning points in the war because the North Koreans lost nearly 58,000 people. The UN ground forces were led by General Walker who attacked the North Koreans with reserves. US planes helped out by destroying the enemy from above. On August 6, the North Koreans succeeded in crossing the river that stopped them from reaching Pusan. However, the UN forces counterattacked and pushed them back on August 25. North Korea tried to attack the Pusan

Truman was also given an armed forces analysis report called NSC 68 on the the Soviet Union, the UN recommended the US to increase its military spending in order to keep up with the Soviet Union. Lastly, Soviet Union interference in Greece and Turkey made it impossible for Truman not to intervene with a “war torn” Europe. Truman knew he had to aid European countries in order to ward off the spread of communism. The Truman Administration was well aware that they were under an enormous amount of pressure not to appear weak when it came to communism. This is why when the opportunity arose and South Korea was being Invaded, Truman took action and declared that “the US would oppose Communist armed invasion and war.” Truman was determined not to lose another country to communism. On June 27th Truman gave a statement about his concerns with the spread of communism, In it he made it seem as though the Invasion of South Korea had been part of China and ultimately the Soviet Unions plan to spread communism throughout Asia . Though the US was going to make military action against the invasion of South Korea, Truman made sure to reiterate that the US was doing so under the decision of the

The Korean War is sometimes called the “Forgotten War”. It is a war often overlooked. However, it is important to look over every war and not to forget one, especially one so recent. For example, by looking over how the Korean War started, one could tell that it was cause not by weapons, but by politics. The Cold War got the better of the superpowers involved. Those superpowers began trying to make countries use their government. Korea became that rope in the tug-of-war game once again, and it has affected them to this day. The U.S. and the Soviet Union made war almost inevitable by creating two sides with completely different ideologies. During the war both the U.S. and the Soviet Union underestimated the opposing side, leading to a war that ended in a stalemate. It would leave the U.S. on high alert and would leave a bitter distrust between China and the Soviet Union. China was also affected, suffering great losses from the war. In the end, the Korean War was just a minor part of the Cold War. However, it was much more for Korea. Korea is still divided today, and that division does not look to end soon. The Korean war was both a global and local conflict, with millions dying for what ended in a draw. Hopefully this ‘forgotten war’ will be remembered, so a conflict like this won’t happen

World War II was no doubt a long, brutal war that caused many tensions around the globe. When this war was over, it caused a variety of consequences for all of the nations involved, one of these being Korea. The tensions between Russian and Japanese control over Korea literally ripped the country in half. Why did Korea split into North and South and why did this escalate into the Korean War? This question can be answered by looking back at what happened during the war within the country and also focusing on the control of the 2 powers that had a majority of the control of the North and South regions of the peninsula.

Then the UN troops under MacArthur landed at Inchon and moved north from Pusan. This two-pronged attack drove the North Korean out of the south. The UN troops then continued into North Korea, took Pyongyang, and get a head start to the Yalu River. Finally, the Chinese intervened and forced UN troops to retreat across the 38th parallel.

During the Cold war, in the 1950’s, Korea was dealing with political conflicts and tensions along the 38th parallel border. Although Korea became independent, the Soviet Union took control of North Korea while the United States took control of South Korea; dividing the country into two halves. The Korean war began after North Korea invaded South Korea by crossing the 38th parallel. As Stueck states, “...The North Korean attack was not seen as a decisive act in an ongoing civil war but as a dangerous move that threatened world peace and stability” (Stueck 82). The leaders Kim II-Sung, of North Korea, and President Syngman Rhee, of South Korea, were eager to attack each other. The leaders wanted to gain unification through the war. North Korea's

The Korean War took place in the middle of the escalating Cold War, a global battle for world power and influence between the United States, and the Soviet Union with their competing ideologies; democracy and communism. In 1949 a civil war in China resulted with a communist triumph. Leader of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin and China encouraged the communist ruler of North Korea, Kim II Sung, to attack South Korea. The Korean War commenced on June 25 1950, when North Korea attacked South Korea. The Korean War was to have significant consequences on the Cold War

Korea: My country was ruled by Imperial Japan from 1910 until the end of World War II. When the Soviet Union went to war with Japan August 9th 1945, my land north of the 38th parallel was freed to self-rule and my south occupied by The United States of America. Following the Cold War, the 38th parallel became the official divide between my north and south leaving the communist control of the Soviet Union and China in the north with American Democracy in the south.