the korean war (1950-1953). korea controlled by japan during ww ii north occupied by ussr south...
TRANSCRIPT
The Korean War (1950-1953)
Korea
Korea• Controlled by Japan
during WW II• North occupied by
USSR• South occupied by
USA• Line drawn at 38th
Parallel– North communist– South not
The Korean War
• June of 1950– Communist N. Korea invades the South– Recall NSC-68
• US-led United Nations calls North Korea the aggressor– USSR had boycotted the meeting
• So, they didn’t veto
• American-led UN troops enter Korea– Goal is to push NK back to 38th Parallel
• CONTAIN communism
Phases of the Korean War1) North Korea pushes UN forces far south2) UN forces regroup and push NK back to 38th
Parallel3) Decision made to push NK farther North
a) Note change from original plan
4) UN forces push NK to Yalu River (on the border of China)—Nov, 1950
5) China (now communist) enters War (11/50)6) UN forces pushed back to 38th Parallel7) Truce declared in July 1953
a) Korea still divided at 38th Parallel
MacArthur vs. Truman
General Douglas MacArthur• Already famous
– Broke up Bonus Army in 1932
– “Returned” to Philippines in 1944
• Wanted all out war against communism– Proposed nuclear
weapons against China and North Korea
MacArthur vs. Truman
• MacArthur calls for using A-bombs on China and North Korea
• Truman says no• MacArthur attacks Truman in press• Truman fires MacArthur• American public strongly supports
MacArthur– World War III is avoided
Korean War Balance Sheet
• Never technically a “war”– Congress never declared war– A United Nations “Police Action”
• Lasted 3 years
• 50,000 American dead– 2,000,000 Koreans
• South & North remain divided at 38th Parallel