The Role Of North Americans In The North Korean War

The conflict I am focusing on is the conflict between North Korea and the USA.

The Korean War was a defining part of the United States foreign policy in the Cold War Era and was a response to threats from the Soviet Union. The Korean War was a culmination of tensions between North and South Korea that had resulted from the influences the United States and the Soviet Union inculcated into the countries during their occupation. When the Korean War was initiated, by the invasion of South Korea by North Korea, the United States and their allies in the United Nations perceived the invasion as a bold communistic expansion effort that occurred without provocation. (Document A). Further validating this idea was the fact that the attack was endorsed by the USSR, and partially lead by Red China, both of which were communist countries

In June 1950, 90,000 soldiers from the communist Korean People’s Army crossed the 38th Parallel into South Korea. The most important reason for a military response from the US was the document NSC 68, which stated that they must meet communism wherever it arises. Due to this document, it was the US assumption that the invasion on South Korea was not a Civil War due to the events in Korea, and the permanent divide in 1948. However, there was also US domestic policies, and Truman’s fear of being accused of being ‘soft on communism,’ as well as the US based organisation, the UN, which was a new institution, which Truman had to support. Furthermore, containment in Europe and Asia and the

Americas trooper along with South Korea's troopers pushed North Korea back. According to Cnn (Cnn.com) America sent 90% of the troops that were sent to help South Korea , the U.S. spent almost $67 billion during the Korean war,Along with 103,300 (roughly) soldiers were injured from the U.S. alone..and the soviet Union wasn't to happy with this (Josef Stalin their dictator).The U.S.S.R. sent in more troops to back up North Korea.Now the U.S.S.R and North Korea were against America and South Korea millions of people were killed in this battle/war on the both sides.

North Korea was supported by the Soviet Union while South Korea was supported by the United States. Northern korea was greatly influenced by the Soviet, “fearing that the Soviets intended to seize the entire peninsula from their position in the north, the United States quickly moved its own troops into south Korea” (National Archives). This caused the US to help South Korea from the influence of communism, but the “forces are nearly pushed off the Korean peninsula” (document C). China got involved by helping North Korea since they share a border with them, feeling aligned. This war proceeded to happen for several years until 1953. This demonstrates containment because they are trying to keep communism in only these

North Korea supported Communism and was backed by the Soviet Union and South Korea was democratic and got aid from the United States. North Korea only invaded when Joseph Stalin gave his approval out of his motive to spread communism (Doc C). North Korea pushing into South Korea would help communism spread and take over the entire Korean peninsula. In order to contain communism and prevent this issue, the United States decided they needed to get involved and help South Korea push back. As the war dragged on for three years, more than two million deaths occurred to cause a result of borders at the 38th Parallel (Doc C).

A difference between the wars were that the United Nations took a vital part in the Korean War. This made the Korean War in which an international organization played a major role. After the North Korean Invasion, the United Nations adjured member countries to come to the assistance of South Korea. Sixteen countries responded by sending troops, while forty-one countries sent food, equipment, and other supplies (Korean War). With the assistance of the U.N., South Korea was provided with core military strategic direction, fighting units, weapons, tanks, and medical assistance for the anti-communist war effort

Efforts to unify Korea resulted in more than 100,000 deaths due to guerilla warfare. In April 1950, North Korean leader Kim II Sung persuaded Joseph Stalin to back an invasion of South Korea, convincing Stalin that the United States would not intervene. Stalin agreed to provide arms, equipment, and advisors to the North Koreans (“Korean War”). Kim II Sung did not stop there as he also persuaded the newly communist Chinese to aid the North Koreans. The Korean War, (June 25,1950 – July 27, 1953), occurred when over 75,000 North Korean Army invaded the land across of the 38th parallel. American president Harry Truman was feeling heat after “letting China fall”, so Truman ordered American troops into action on South July, the United Sates entered the conflict on South Korea’s behalf. The next three years would be the darkest and most horrific in Korean history. As seen in American reporter Bill Shinn’s account, “the North Koreans were gruesome…during the occupation of South Korea, they killed over 165,000 civilians. Also, I witnessed a South Korean mass execution of civilians suspected of having helped the communists. Korea was a mess” (“The Forgotten War Remembered: Korea, 1950-1953). This shows the depths of the horror that was perpetrated in Korea for three years.

If it were not for the help , North Korea would have easily taken over the South. Even with all this support Korea’s biggest problem was and still is the lack of resources, it is limited to natural resources . South Koreans had little weapons and military due to the fact that the Korean war happened soon after World war II. If that was not enough homes were destroyed and children were abandoned as orphans in the street, to top it all of the temperatures would range from 40 degrees Celsius in the summer to around 4 degrees in the winter. The South Koreans did not have the correct clothing to withstand such freezing temperature, whereas the North Koreans were better equipped and better trained.

North and South Korea. The United States entered into the conflict supporting South Korea. The

Russia and the United States began their relationship as allies when Russia disregarded the non aggression pact they signed with Germany in 1939, effectively sealing Germany’s fate in World War II.

America's Involvement in the Korean War The USA emerged from WWII as the dominant Western, democratic superpower. She quickly established for herself a role as world policeman, and defender of the "free world". When, on June 25th 1950, Communist North Korean forces invaded the South of the country, the USAwas quick to step in, and with UN support and approval, sent in military forces to restore the balance. However, it is questionable whether moral principles were the only reason for America's involvement in the Korean War, or whether perhaps the Truman administration had other validation for such a huge scale military campaign.

On a sunny summer day on June 25, 1950, the Korean War was coming to a start. It began when over 75,000 North Korean soldiers surged across the 38th parallel. This marked the very first attack of the Cold War. The war was between North and South Korea, but it became international when other countries joined for support.

The third source that I decided to use was an English newspaper. The headline from the article was the first thing that stood out, suggesting that Trump might bomb North Korea next. The article barely covers the event, instead, it covers Eric Trump's comments and the possibility that North Korea can be next. The newspapers instigates that the United States might use military action against North Korea though including Eric Trump's statement hinting that his father is not afraid to make "North Korea...next on the hit list if Kim Jong-Un carries on developing atomic weapons" (Daily Mirror, April 14, 2017). The newspaper just adds more fuel to the existing tension between the United States and North Korea with such a provocative statement.

While the occupant powers were struggling to set ground for securing their interests, the Korean nationalism was at the most heated phase. Suffered through the Japanese colonial rule since 1910, the leaders of the two governments were determined to reunify Korea under their political regimes, and from their point view the only way to reach their aims was war. However, the United States and the Soviet Union were cautious not to take a role in initiating the war since neither of them was eager to prompt another to intervene. Being aware of their dependence on the superpowers, both leaders first had to gain the support of these countries to reach their goals. Until the beginning of the war, Kim Il-Sung particularly struggled hard to convince his mentor Stalin to provide him support in the war against the south.