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