The Korean War
CAUSES
TIMELINE
Fall of Japanese Empire left a power Vacuum in the far East just like the the Nazis did in Europe
The Victors could not agreee how to deal with Korea. the country was therefore split along the 38th Parallel, the North controlled by the USSRa dot eh South by the US
In September 1948 the North form the Peoples' Democratic Republic of Korea, with a communist leader Kim Il Sung
August 1948 the South held by the US create the Republic of South Korea . It was conservative and anti-Communist led by Syngman Rhee
The Russians withdrew from Korea in December 1948
The Americans withdrew from Korea in June 1949 #
This left a bubbling cauldron of political instability. #
Each side was armed by the two main contestants of the Cold War and both Korea governments claiming authority over territory ruled by the other
June 25th 1950 more than 100'000 NK troops laughed a surprise attack over the 38th parrallel
June 27th 1950 NK troops capture Seoul. Same day UNSC adopt American plan for member states to provide aid to repeal NK troops
June 29th 1950 Truman orders two American infantry divisions from Japan to Pusan in SK
July 4th 1950 UNSC establishes expeditionary forces for Korea. On the 5th July 1950 Mac Arthur is placed in command of this troops and American soldiers.
September 1950: MacArthur launches amphibious assault on Inchon and a land offensive break out from Pusan
(At this point the UN could have stopped the invasion as they had driven the North Koreans back to the38th and Seoul. But they decide to try and unite the both)
October 2nd 1950 China warn the US that if they crossed the 38th paralle China might be obliged to intervene in defence of its vital interestsl
By September 15th 1950 the NK army had conquered most of the Korean piinunsual
October 7th 1950 the UN authorises MacArthur to "take all appropriate measures to insure a stable situation in the whole of the Korean peninsula
October 9th 1950 MacArthur orders his troops to cross the 38th parallel
When the Chinese warning is ignored 200'000 Chinese "volunteers" cross the Yalu river
Within 3Weeks the US have captured Pyongyang and are approaching the Yalu river on the Chinese border
November 26th 1950 the Chinese launch a major offensive along a broad front which forces the UN and US troops to retreat
In December 1950 100’00 UN troops are evacuated, from Hungham (Dunkirk style
January 4th 1951 Chinese and NK forces cross the 38th parallel
and in January Chinese and North Korean forces recapture Seoul
A day latter Truman interposes the American Seventh Fleet between China and the island of Formosa
At this point Mac Arthur suggested the extension of the conflict to China itself to Truman
By the beginning of April the UN and US troops had halted the NK and Chinese advances and counterattacked once again into North Korea
Truman fires Mac Arthur in the 11th April 1951 because of disagreement between them. He is replaced by General Mathew B.Ridgway
June 25th 1951 Truman accept Soviet suggestion for a cease-fir and for a peace settlement to be agreed upon
The first meeting took place on the 9th July 1951
It took two year for the armistice to be signed on the 6th July 1953, by then Eishehower was president of the US
CONSEQUENCES
1Million SK 1MillionNK+Chinese and 33Thousand US casualties
What had started as a war on just a South East Asian peninsula had bought the Cold War right into East Asia and the Western Pacific
The Korean War was a catalyst for rearmament for the US and USSR especially in Nuclear weapons
The new border was in favour of South Korea which gained 15Hundred Square Miles in territory
August 30th 1951 the US treaty with the Philippines allowed the US to build airbases and have naval bases closer to Eastern Asia
The Armistice provided a demilitarised zone along the new Korea border.
The US keep some forces in SK and promised military help if they needed it, the same went to many other Asian countries the US had promised to defend in the early fifties.
September 1st 1951 the ANZUS pact is signed between the US; New-Zealand and Australia.
The US effectively replace Great Britain as the protector of the Far East just like it had done after WWII in Europe