The Cold War
Korean War
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| US Battleship during Korean War |
Dates: June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953
Leaders: The leader and Prime Minister of North Korea was Kim Il-sung. North Korea's chief commander was Choi Yong-kun.
The President of South Korea was Syngman Rhee. The South Korean Army was led by Chung II-kwon. The United States Army and United Nations forces were lead by General Douglas MacArthur. The US President at the start of the war was Harry Truman. Dwight D. Eisenhower was president by the end of the war.
Countries Involved
Supporting North Korea was the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China. Supporting South Korea was the United States, Great Britain, and the United Nations.
Before the War
Before World War II the Korean Peninsula had been a part of Japan. After the war it needed to be divided up. The Northern half went under the control of the Soviet Union and the Southern half under the control of the United States. The two sides were divided at the 38th parallel.
Eventually two separate states formed with North Korea forming a communist government with Kim Il-sung as leader and South Korea forming a capitalist government under the rule of Syngman Rhee.
The two sides did not get along and there were constant skirmishes and battles along the border at the 38th parallel. Attempts were being made to negotiate a unified country, but they were going nowhere.
North Korea Attacks
On June 25, 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea. The South Korean Army fled and forces from the United Nations came to help out. The United States provided the majority of the United Nations forces. Soon the South Korea government only occupied a small part of Korea on the southern tip.
The War
At first the United Nations was only trying to defend South Korea, however, after the first summer of fighting, President Truman decided to go on the offensive. He said the war was now about liberating North Korea from communism.
Battle of Inchon
General George MacArthur led the UN forces on an attack at the Battle of Inchon. The Battle was a success and MacArthur was able to move in and route much of the North Korean army. He soon had retaken control of the city of Seoul as well as South Korea back up to the 38th parallel.
China Enters the War
MacArthur continued to be aggressive and pushed the North Koreans all the way to the northern border. However, the Chinese were not happy with this and sent their army to enter the war. At this point President Truman replaced MacArthur with General Matthew Ridgway.
Back to the 38th Parallel
Ridgway fortified the border just north of the 38th Parallel. Here the two sides would battle for the rest of the war. North Korea would attack the south at various points and the UN army would retaliate trying to prevent more attacks.
End of the War
Negotiations continued for much of the war, but President Truman did not want to appear weak. When Eisenhower became president, he was much more willing to offer concessions to end the war.
On July 17, 1953 a treaty was signed that ended the war. Few things had changed as a result of the war. Both countries would remain independent and the border would remain at the 38th parallel. However, between the two countries a 2 mile demilitarized zone was placed to act as a buffer in hopes to prevent future wars.
Facts About the Korean War
Although Korea was not strategic to the US, they entered the war because they did not want to appear soft on communism. They also wanted to protect Japan, which they did consider strategic.
- The TV show M*A*S*H was set during the Korean War.
- The situation today in Korea is similar to what it was 50+ years ago after the war. Little has changed.
- It is estimated that around 2.5 million people were killed or wounded during the war. Around 40,000 US soldiers died in the war. The civilian casualties were especially high with estimates of around 2 million civilians killed.
- It is thought that President Truman strongly considered using nuclear weapons during the war.
Domino Theory: The US Government was afraid that
communism would spread like “dominoes” falling.
Watch this 5 minute video about the Korean War and this 4 minutes video on the history of Korea
This 3 minute video shows how different life today is in North Korea compared to the United States
Comment on the blog:
One thing you learned about the Korean War and another about life in Korea.
I learned that 2.5 million people were killed or wounded during the war. I also learned that 2 million civilians were killed. I learned that there was barely enough food for people.
ReplyDeleteI learned that over 40,000 US soldiers died in the war, and that was sad. From the videos, and the worksheets given yesterday, after the war there was quite a traumatic impression left on Korea. There was so much death, starvation, and sadness. This certain part of Korea wouldn't trade with many other countries, therefore, their food was very scarce. There was also much land damage.
ReplyDeleteI have learned that soldiers where rescued from the harsh winter on the wide scale. In North Korea, there is constant energy shortages leaving some of the workers cold.
ReplyDeleteThe Korean War video didn't work for me, but I learned that both sieges are still wary of each other and untrusting even though they are not at constant war anymore. I also learned that it is better to walk to your destination instead of taking the metro because the metro is unpredictable and doesn't work very well.
ReplyDeleteI learned that millions of people during the Korean War, and that nuclear weapons were maybe almost used. I also learned that North Korea is very separate from the rest of the world, with basically no connection and knowledge of whats happening in other places. The pictures of the kids at the end of the "history of Korea" video made me really sad.
ReplyDeleteI learned that life in Korea was very tough. Many people experienced electricity shortages. That would be very hard to not have light! Something I learned about the Korean war was that there was only 2 miles between North and South Korea. The one thing that separated them was the demilitarized fence.
ReplyDeleteit was really depressing to see all the people like that in the last video, EVERY body is poor... it's just not right.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know actually that a treaty ended the war. North Korea was so controlling nobody got to do anything they wanted, they ate very poorly and where malnourished.
ReplyDeleteI learned they put a 2 mile demilitarized buffer to try and prevent more wars. Not exactly sure if that would really help. I would want them to be closer so that the North Korean people can see how bad some of their lives are and somehow escape.
ReplyDeleteSomething that was cool was the most massive rescue operation since Dunkirk. 90,000 soldiers were rescued by ships. It was crazy in the ‘life in Korea’ video that the land that the tourist bus drives by is all farmed by hand.
ReplyDeleteI learned that in the start of the war we were on the defensive and then later went on the offence. I also learned that in Korea tourists cant go where they want and journalists aren't aloud in North Korea
ReplyDeleteI love the TV show MASH!!
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I learned about the Korean war was that General Douglas MacArthur was replaced with Gen. Matthew Ridgway.
One of the thinks I learned about life in Korea is that there are youth parades...and boy I think they walk a little funny :P
I learned that nearly 2.5 million people were killed or wounded during the war. Around 40,000 US soldiers died in the war. The civilian casualties were especially high with estimates of around 2 million civilians killed.
ReplyDeleteAnd I learned that Koreans hat 12 centuries of independence! And life there is very different in north vs. south. ;(