Korea

Cold War Case Study: Korea: 

Cold War Case Study: Korea

Slide2: 

“…the world of the 20th century, if it is to come to life in any nobility of health and vigor, must be to a significant degree an American Century.” Henry Luce, “The American Century”

Allies Become Enemies:The Aftermath of WWII: 

Allies Become Enemies: The Aftermath of WWII Perceived spread of communism in the late 1940s Governments in Eastern Europe go solidly communist 1946, Winston Churchill gives his famous “Iron Curtain” speech Fear of communism spreading to places such as Turkey, Greece, Iran, etc.

Containing the threat: 

Containing the threat In response, U.S. policy centered on the doctrine of containment (communism must be “contained” to not allowed to spread). Included: Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe National Security Act of 1947 creates National Security Council, Department of Defense, CIA

The Premise of Containment from George Kennan’s American Diplomacy”: 

The Premise of Containment from George Kennan’s American Diplomacy” “This means we are going to continue for a long time to find the Russians difficult to deal with. It does not mean that they should be considered as embarked upon a do-or-die program to overthrow our society by a given date.” “…it (Soviet power) cannot be easily defeated or discouraged by a single victory on the part of its opponents.” “In these circumstances, it is clear that the main element of any United States policy toward the Soviet Union must be that of a long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies.”

Tensions escalate: 

Tensions escalate In 1948, Soviet Union places a blockade on West Berlin. Overcome via Berlin Airlift In 1949, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed. Soviet-led Warsaw Pact developed. In 1949, Soviet Union explodes its first atomic bomb. In 1949, Communists defeat nationalists in Chinese civil war. In response, U.S. policy shifts from “containing” communism to a policy outlined in NSC-68: communism must be resisted wherever possible.

The nuclear threat: 

The nuclear threat

U.S. Far Asia Policy: 

U.S. Far Asia Policy The U.S. would come to the aid of countries within a “defensive perimeter” around Asia including Japan and the Philippines. Countries outside of that perimeter such as South Korea and Taiwan were on their own but could call on the United Nations to come to their aid.

The Korean Story:The Japanese Occupation 1910-1945: 

The Korean Story: The Japanese Occupation 1910-1945

After the war: a divided peninsula: 

After the war: a divided peninsula

North Korea attacks!: 

North Korea attacks! At 4:00 a.m., June 25, 1950, North Korea launches surprise attack on South Korea by crossing the 38th Parallel. This train was scheduled to make the regular crossing north—but never made it.

Seoul falls: 

Seoul falls The surprise attack catches South Korea unaware. Within days, Seoul falls. In the years that followed, it would be taken and retaken several times. Remnants, such as this wall and fence on Ansan Mt., recall this era.

Near defeat: 

Near defeat By August 1950, the North Koreans were nearly successful, having pushed the South Koreans to the edge of the peninsula. Only a remnant held out around Pusan.

Now what? Should the U.S. get involved?: 

Now what? Should the U.S. get involved? YES The U.S. has an obligation to back up a fellow democracy or risk looking weak in the face of advancing communism. Do we want to appease the communists the way we appeased Hitler? NO The Korean affair is an internal one among Koreans. Getting involved in this civil war might bring in China or the Soviet Union, raising the chances of turning this into a nuclear conflict

The decision: 

The decision The United States went to the United Nations, which recognized The Republic of Korea (South Korea) as the legitimate government on the peninsula. The U.N. agreed to help South Korea. The Soviet Union boycotted the vote (because the People’s Republic of China did not get a seat in the U.N.) —otherwise its veto would have killed the measure.

Inchon Landing: 

Inchon Landing In September, Douglas Macarthur lands at Inchon, near Seoul, cutting off the North Korean advance.

U.N. success: 

U.N. success The landing at Inchon caught the North Koreans off guard. Additional forces entered into at Pusan.

Slide18: 

By November 1950, western forces were nearly to Yalu River, the Chinese border.

Enter the Chinese: 

Enter the Chinese By late 1950, it was found that China had massed 850,000 troops just on the other side of the border. In November 1950, Chinese forces move down, splitting U.N. forces into two groups.

Now What?!!: 

Now What?!! General Douglas MacArthur felt that that there should be an attack on China, itself, perhaps with the support of a Nationalist Chinese invasion from Taiwan. President Truman and the Joint Chiefs of Staff felt that full war with the People’s Republic of China would be “the wrong war, at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and with the wrong enemy.”

The decision: 

The decision Truman, with support of the cabinet, fired MacArthur and agreed to a conflict limited to Korea.

The war bogs down: 

The war bogs down U.N. forces halted the Chinese advance around the 38th Parallel. Over the next two years, the war bogged down.

A somewhat new kind of war: 

A somewhat new kind of war Leaders, troops, and equipment had often seen action in the Second World War just five years earlier. However, the air war included helicopters and jet fighters. The danger of a nuclear conflict always loomed in the background.

A Wichita connection: 

A Wichita connection Col. James Jabara was one of the first aces to be involved in an all-jet dogfight. He is shown here in this painting at the Yalu River in May 1951.

Stalemate: 

Stalemate By 1951, negotiations with China and the North Koreans began with the general idea of a ceasefire along the 38th Parallel. The Soviet Union agreed. However, some felt that the communists were very vulnerable and simply wanted to preserve control of at least half of the Korean peninsula. Meanwhile the South Koreans resented their future being a bargaining chip with the enemy and feared a continued Chinese presence in the north.

The election of 1952: 

The election of 1952 Truman had always been challenged by conservative Republicans for not being tough enough on communism. In 1952, voters elected military hero Dwight Eisenhower as president.

Peace: sort of: 

Peace: sort of On July 27, 1953, an armistice was signed at Panmunjeom on the border between northern and southern Korean forces. This bridge about 10 miles away at the Imjin River was the site of prisoner of war exchanges after the end of hostilities.

The Dividing Line: The DMZ: 

The Dividing Line: The DMZ

Social changes: 

Social changes The Korean peninsula was devastated. As South Korea recovered, it relied on a now established U.S. military presence for protection. Army rations even supplemented the limited civilian food supplies. One result is a dish still eaten in Korea: a concoction of hot dogs, macaroni, pepperoni, “American cheese,” and ramen noodles called “Army Stew.”

The developing south: 

The developing south

Threats and ties: 

Threats and ties North Korea’s government remains a threat. In the 1970s, South Koreans discovered several tunnels under the DMZ for a possible invasion from the north. Bridges in Seoul still have dynamite attached to be blown up in case of attack. Yet, in general, both northern and southern Koreans see themselves as one people and look forward to the eventual reunification of the land.

Hope for reunification: 

Hope for reunification