The Korean War was a war fought between North Korea and South Korea on the Korean Peninsula from 1950 to 1953. At the end of World War II in 1945, the Korean peninsula was divided into two zones along the 38th parallel, with the northern half of the peninsula occupied by the Soviet Union and the southern half by the United States. Korea was divided in 1948 when Syngman Rhee was elected president of the Republic of Korea (ROK, South Korea); and Kim Il-Sung became the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, North Korea) the same year.
The causes of the Korean War can be classified into short-term and long-term ones. The long-term cause is the naturally antagonist Capitalism and Communism. The Communist side, which was the USSR who occupied the Northern part of the Korean Peninsula, wanted to take control over the entire peninsula. The Capitalist side, which was the USA who occupied the South, wanted to prevent Communism from spreading. The antagonistic sponsors of the South and North parts of the Korean peninsula led to the short-term causes of the Korea War. The Truman Doctrine in 1947 officially established the worldwide containment of Communism as a vital American national security interest. In January 1950, Secretary of State Dean Acheson pledged that the United States will fight to defend all territory within its "defensive perimeter," which he defines to include Japan, and the Philippines—but he did not mention Korea. The leader of USSR Stalin misinterpreted this speech that he could green-light North Korean leader Kim Il Sung's "liberation" of South Korea with little risk of intervention by the United States. North Korea’s over-confidence and Stalin’s misunderstanding toward US’s little interest in South Korea led to an assault on South Korea in June, 1950.
Once the war broke out, Syngman Rhee executed anyone who opposed him, fearing that they might have joined the Communist invaders. As for the US, in consultation with top officials of the State and Defense Departments at the Blaire House, President Truman made the critical decision to offer military aid to South Korea without seeking an official declaration of war from Congress on the 26th. An American-drafted resolution was also passed by the UN Security Council that condemns DPRK. At the Battle of Osan 1950 July 4th, the Americans lost, and the USSR and DPRK pushed the Americans way down to the South. However, General MacArthur’s Incheon Landing made the North Koreans retreat back to the North. On Oct 25, 1950, the Chinese intervened, fearing that once the US takes over the the entire peninsula, they could be in danger. The Chinese Crossed the Yalu river and attack the South Korean by surprise. On July 27, 1953, an armistice was finally established. After nearly two years of negotiations, diplomats from the United States, North Korea, and China reached an agreement on an armistice to end the "UN peace action" in Korea without a formal peace treaty. Both sides claimed victory; Korea remained divided at the 38th parallel. Attempts such as the Peace Village talk and the Geneva Talk both failed, the armed stalemate at the 38th parallel continued indefinitely.
The consequences of the Korea War were horrendous. Four million Koreans died, China lost up to one million soldiers, and the US suffered 36,934 dead and 103,284 wounded. Other than that, the UN suffered 3322 dead and 11,949 wounded. However, the boundaries between South and North Korea became even stronger, and the armed stalemate at the 38th parallel still continues nowadays. North Korea remained a communist nation and South Korea became a free republic, and the tension between the US and USSR is still present. More positive consequences of the war were that Japan’s economy boosted because the war materials that Korea used were from Japan, and the UN gained more legitimacy and importance.
Before jumping into conclusions, this article would first explain how the Korean War exemplifies both continuity and change. The major characteristics of continuity are:
1. Countries asked other countries for support;
2. Involving the participation of other countries;
3. The opposing views of Communism and Capitalism and how they showed antagonism;
4. Countries were divided and occupied by other countries.
First of all, in Stalin’s meeting with Kim Il Sung on March 5, 1949, Stalin was asked to strengthen North Korea by providing aids in economic and military standpoints. As for the Cold War, West Berlin, Greece, and Turkey had asked US for support. Second of all, the Korea started with only the US and USSR as sponsors, and then China and the UN participated later on. As for the Cold War, it also included France and Britain who wanted to take parts of Germany as well. Third of all, the opposing views of Communism and Capitalism led to the tension between North and South Korea. Same thing for the Cold War, there were also tension between West and East Berlin. Last but not least, North and South Korea were divided on the 38th parallel and occupied by the US and USSR. As for the Cold War, Germany was also divided into 4 sections controlled by France, Britain, US, and USSR.
The changes are: 1.Having a third party intervened and supported on the the super powers; 2. The UN allowed countries to pass resolutions that were extremely crucial and influential to the war. First of all, the super powers were the US and USSR in the Korean War, and the Chinese chose to side with USSR because they were afraid of the spread of Capitalism as well. This is something new, because there was no a third country that chose to side with the US or USSR in the Cold War. France and Britain took portions of Germany but did not choose sides. Second of all, the intervention of UN is also something new because it allows countries to decide on what to do about the war as a whole. In the Korean War there was a resolution passed that condemned DPRK, even though Russia did not vote for that resolution. Before the Korea War, the UN didn't do much to intervene and prevent other fights. This change is extremely important because it gave UN more legitimacy and importance, and countries get to decide on actions together to keep peace.
Seeing that there are more characteristics of continuity other than changes, the Korean War represents more of the pattern continuity, in which the characteristics include: countries asked other countries for support; the participation of other countries; the opposing views of Communism and Capitalism and how they showed antagonism; countries were divided and occupied by other countries. There were also changes such as the intervention of a third party that chose a side and the actions UN took. Despite how the continuity outweighed the change, both were extremely influential to the world.
The causes of the Korean War can be classified into short-term and long-term ones. The long-term cause is the naturally antagonist Capitalism and Communism. The Communist side, which was the USSR who occupied the Northern part of the Korean Peninsula, wanted to take control over the entire peninsula. The Capitalist side, which was the USA who occupied the South, wanted to prevent Communism from spreading. The antagonistic sponsors of the South and North parts of the Korean peninsula led to the short-term causes of the Korea War. The Truman Doctrine in 1947 officially established the worldwide containment of Communism as a vital American national security interest. In January 1950, Secretary of State Dean Acheson pledged that the United States will fight to defend all territory within its "defensive perimeter," which he defines to include Japan, and the Philippines—but he did not mention Korea. The leader of USSR Stalin misinterpreted this speech that he could green-light North Korean leader Kim Il Sung's "liberation" of South Korea with little risk of intervention by the United States. North Korea’s over-confidence and Stalin’s misunderstanding toward US’s little interest in South Korea led to an assault on South Korea in June, 1950.
Once the war broke out, Syngman Rhee executed anyone who opposed him, fearing that they might have joined the Communist invaders. As for the US, in consultation with top officials of the State and Defense Departments at the Blaire House, President Truman made the critical decision to offer military aid to South Korea without seeking an official declaration of war from Congress on the 26th. An American-drafted resolution was also passed by the UN Security Council that condemns DPRK. At the Battle of Osan 1950 July 4th, the Americans lost, and the USSR and DPRK pushed the Americans way down to the South. However, General MacArthur’s Incheon Landing made the North Koreans retreat back to the North. On Oct 25, 1950, the Chinese intervened, fearing that once the US takes over the the entire peninsula, they could be in danger. The Chinese Crossed the Yalu river and attack the South Korean by surprise. On July 27, 1953, an armistice was finally established. After nearly two years of negotiations, diplomats from the United States, North Korea, and China reached an agreement on an armistice to end the "UN peace action" in Korea without a formal peace treaty. Both sides claimed victory; Korea remained divided at the 38th parallel. Attempts such as the Peace Village talk and the Geneva Talk both failed, the armed stalemate at the 38th parallel continued indefinitely.
The consequences of the Korea War were horrendous. Four million Koreans died, China lost up to one million soldiers, and the US suffered 36,934 dead and 103,284 wounded. Other than that, the UN suffered 3322 dead and 11,949 wounded. However, the boundaries between South and North Korea became even stronger, and the armed stalemate at the 38th parallel still continues nowadays. North Korea remained a communist nation and South Korea became a free republic, and the tension between the US and USSR is still present. More positive consequences of the war were that Japan’s economy boosted because the war materials that Korea used were from Japan, and the UN gained more legitimacy and importance.
Before jumping into conclusions, this article would first explain how the Korean War exemplifies both continuity and change. The major characteristics of continuity are:
1. Countries asked other countries for support;
2. Involving the participation of other countries;
3. The opposing views of Communism and Capitalism and how they showed antagonism;
4. Countries were divided and occupied by other countries.
First of all, in Stalin’s meeting with Kim Il Sung on March 5, 1949, Stalin was asked to strengthen North Korea by providing aids in economic and military standpoints. As for the Cold War, West Berlin, Greece, and Turkey had asked US for support. Second of all, the Korea started with only the US and USSR as sponsors, and then China and the UN participated later on. As for the Cold War, it also included France and Britain who wanted to take parts of Germany as well. Third of all, the opposing views of Communism and Capitalism led to the tension between North and South Korea. Same thing for the Cold War, there were also tension between West and East Berlin. Last but not least, North and South Korea were divided on the 38th parallel and occupied by the US and USSR. As for the Cold War, Germany was also divided into 4 sections controlled by France, Britain, US, and USSR.
The changes are: 1.Having a third party intervened and supported on the the super powers; 2. The UN allowed countries to pass resolutions that were extremely crucial and influential to the war. First of all, the super powers were the US and USSR in the Korean War, and the Chinese chose to side with USSR because they were afraid of the spread of Capitalism as well. This is something new, because there was no a third country that chose to side with the US or USSR in the Cold War. France and Britain took portions of Germany but did not choose sides. Second of all, the intervention of UN is also something new because it allows countries to decide on what to do about the war as a whole. In the Korean War there was a resolution passed that condemned DPRK, even though Russia did not vote for that resolution. Before the Korea War, the UN didn't do much to intervene and prevent other fights. This change is extremely important because it gave UN more legitimacy and importance, and countries get to decide on actions together to keep peace.
Seeing that there are more characteristics of continuity other than changes, the Korean War represents more of the pattern continuity, in which the characteristics include: countries asked other countries for support; the participation of other countries; the opposing views of Communism and Capitalism and how they showed antagonism; countries were divided and occupied by other countries. There were also changes such as the intervention of a third party that chose a side and the actions UN took. Despite how the continuity outweighed the change, both were extremely influential to the world.