By Taanini Gurjar, Shaan Mirchandani, and Lavannya Anand
BACKGROUND :
The Korean War was fought between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) The war began in the predawn hours of June 25 1950, the Korean People’s army, (KPA) ambushed and struck across the 38th parallel. Subsequently, The UN and the US lent a helping hand to South Korea, and China and the Soviet Union helped North Korea. As a result of the war, there were more than 2.5 million casualties. The war ended in a stalemate as no country actually won or took possession of the other.
TIME LEADING UP TO WAR :
On August 14, 1945, U.S. Army officers Dean Rusk and Charles Bonesteel picked the 38th parallel as a border for the Soviet and U.S. zones of control in Korea. The division caused the capital city Seoul to be placed in the southern region of Korea and also a part of the U.S zone.
After a period of time, the Republic of Korea (South Korea) was formed. A few weeks later, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) was established as well. This leads to Seoul becoming the capital of South Korea and Pyongyang (A city in the northern region of Korea) the capital of North Korea.
Two months prior to the war, Kim Il Sung (Leader of DPRK) traveled to Moscow to persuade Stalin and inform him about his plans to invade South Korea as well as support on a range of matters. His plan included: invading South Korea in hope that they will reunite and be a single country under communism.
KOREAN WAR EVENTS:
The North Koreans launched a massive artillery fire over the 38th parallel in the early morning hours of June 25. North Korea’s KPA invaded Seoul in the afternoon hours of June 28, but were unable to achieve their goal of a Rhee government conceit and the collapse of the South Korean army. Rather, a defense line south of the Han River was constructed by South Korea’s ROKA forces. However, if the South wished to avoid their ultimate downfall, they required help from the U.S. armed forces.
Truman, the US president, was willing to support South Korea by supplying them with ammunition and air protection, but did not wish to go to war. The U.S. troops sent to South Korea were led by MacArthur, who disregarded issues about fortifying their landing site at Inch’on. MacArthur led his troops, including South Korean forces, to North Korea in an effort to take back the land North Korea had invaded and some more. Resultantly, Pyongyang fell to the U.S. and South Korea. North Korea, being backed in a corner, reached out to China and Russia for support, of which both agreed. However, China demanded that air protection would be provided by the Soviets.
The aim of the Chinese First Offensive was testing and delaying their advance.With successful tests, they went on the offense, and were also able to counterattack the UNC plans and push the South Korea, UNC and U.S. coalition back. Once they succeeded at this, weather conditions made opting for a defensive strategy the only viable option.
The Soviets also launched MiG-15 jet fighters to which the U.S. responded by also placing fighter jets to keep a watch. During this two and a half year battle, the Americans gained superiority. However, they were never capable of perfectly protecting their land.
The FEAF focused their attack on any protection the Chinese may have. North Korea, to combat this, lured the remaining defense troops of the U.S., a trap MacArthur fell for. Consequently, there were ongoing battles between the two sides. China was able to attack to a point where Pyongyang was almost within reach, however, the Americans managed to hold their ground despite the unfavourable weather conditions.
MacArthur and Walker clashed heads on their plan of action: a more offensive versus a more defensive plan respectively. Going ahead with Walker’s strategy, which saved more lives, allowed North Korea to move further into South Korea, however, they were able to recapture the land.
Seeing how easily the CPVF was able to drive out the UNC from North Korea, Mao Zedong desired a unified Korean army to drive out the Americans. His motivation was heightened when the Chinese Third Offense retook Seoul. They were able to do so by attacking the ROKA, who were weak at the time. Ridgway used his international relations to strike back. This was seen to repeat itself. The Chinese and North Korean coalition attacked South Korea and managed to capture more ground. However, South Korea managed to recapture their land once again. Although they were successful, MacArthur was called back due to his insubordination and was replaced by Ridgway. Van Fleet was selected as replacement for Ridgway’s old post.
Before Van Fleet could implement his plans, China struck. Mao Zedong refused to believe Peng’s report that the CPVF could hold initiative. Air protection and ammunition increased, and once again the UNC crossed the 38th parallel, leaving the Chinese forces weakened.
By June 1951, all troops had grown. Leaders from both sides felt obligated to reach peace, due to their war-weary civilians, albeit by a non-military victory. Truman and the UN had lost passion for anything beyond status quo ante bellum. The U.S. National Security Council announced a new policy on May 17, 1951, committing the US to support a unified, democratic Korea, but not by military action. The U.S. and Russia also had secret meetings where they revealed neither were against a negotiated settlement to the Korean War. Ridgway was authorised by Truman to initiate these talks Finally, China and North Korea declared a statement where they were open to arrange for a truce meeting but only in a location of their choice.
REASONS FOR NORTH KOREA WAGING WAR ON SOUTH KOREA :
Korea became two countries after world war two. By invading South Korea, North Korea hoped to make a single communist nation. As evident in the Cold War, the US was against the spread of communism, while the soviet union supported its spread in countries such as Cuba, Korea, Vietnam and Eastern Europe. The US got involved in the war to keep communism from spreading. The American containment policy is often referred to as the Truman Doctrine, since American President Harry S. Truman argued that the United States should support the containment of Soviet Communism immediately after World War II. The reasons for American involvement in the Korean War are often held as part of the Domino Theory. Pursuing qualified containment in Korea, Truman asked Congress for three-year funding of economic aid to the ROK in June 1949. To build support for it, on January 12, 1950, Secretary of State Dean G. Ache- son’s speech to the National Press Club depicted an optimistic future for South Korea. Six months later, critics charged that his exclusion of the ROK from the US “defensive perimeter” gave the Communists a “green light” to launch an invasion. Scattered border skirmishes from 1948-50 kept tensions simmering. In 1948, the United States called on the United Nations to sponsor a vote for Koreans to determine their future government. The North refused to participate, so the South formed its own government in Seoul under the anti-communist Syngman Rhee. In retaliation, Kim Il Sung, a former communist guerrilla, was named Premier of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). In this way, tensions between the two kept simmering which led to North Korea invading South Korea.
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