Why did the US get involved in Korea?

1. Why did the US get involved in Korea? Recall knowledge of Korea from last lesson Explain reasons why North Korean forces invaded the South in 1950 Explain reasons why the US got involved

2. Complete the answers to recall knowledge from last lesson

3. Why did the forces of North Korea attack the South in June 1950? • Conflict in form of a Civil War had already begun from 1949: Both sides squaring up to each other • Both USSR and USA reluctant to help in 1949. • USA had established an advisory body (KMAG) as a defensive, not attacking measure • Also known as ‘Kiss my Ass Goodbye’

4. 2. Why did the situation change to result in an invasion of the South in 1950? • Stalin: released bonds of restraint on Kim Il Sung in 1950 • Accelerated provision of arms to help Kim in February 1950: provided equipment for further three divisions T-34 tanks/ SU-76 self-propelled guns/ heavy Howitzers/ river-crossing equipment into Ch’ongjin Harbour in Aril/May 1950 • By June formidable force of 242 tanks/ 200 aircraft on North of 38th Parallel • Had already been providing tanks and planes since 1949 but for defensive reasons • Return of 50,000 hardened veterans who had served with the Communist PLA in China – they would now form spearhead of North Korea’s attacking forces

6. 3. Why did Stalin change his mind and decide to help invasion? • The invasion could not have happened without massive rearmament of NKPA by USSR • Some argue it was Stalin, not Kim who really pressed for invasion • More confident about the position of the USSR by 1950 – ended US monopoly on atomic weapons by successfully testing his own • Success of Mao in China swung balance of power against the USA • Mao and Stalin make military pact in 1950- Stalin assured that Chinese troops would step in if needed against USA and USSR would not have to have direct intervention. Would also permanently divide China from USA in long run and turn them towards USSR • Stalin also hopeful that US would not intervene – heard Acheson’s speech in Jan 1950 where US Pacific Defence Perimeter excluded territory in mainland Asia • Also NSC 48 – security paper made available to Stalin by Soviet spies implied Korea was not a vital US interest

7. 4. Stalin gives go ahead and urged Mao to give it his blessing too • 4am Sunday 25th June, North launch a massive attack across the 38th Parallel towards Southern Capital of Seoul • Kim Il Sung hoped to finish invasion in a few weeks

8. US Film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9ngJCd7_mM An American newsreel account of the invasion and US intervention

9. 5. FAILURE OF US TO OFFER MILITARY PROMISE TO INTERVENE IF SOUTH WAS INVADED BY NORTH Why did North Korean forces invade the South? 1. INTERNATIONAL FACTORS: INCREASED CONFIDENCE OF STALIN AND TRIUMPH OF MAO IN CHINA 4. MILITARY BALANCE: MASSIVE SUPERIORITY OF THE NORTH KOREAN ARMY BY SUMMER OF 1950 3.THE KOREAN DIMENSION – INTENSE RIVALRY FOR CONTROL OF KOREAN NATIONALISM AND PROCESS OF KOREAN UNIFICATION 2. PERSONAL FACTORS: CHARACTER/ DETERMINATION OF KIM IL SUNG

10. Why did the US get involved? If the US clearly did not seek conflict in Korea then why did they get involved in your view?

11. US Involvement: 1. USA Had deliberately withheld heavy equipment from Rhee to prevent attack in the North – only 27 armoured vehicles and no tanks. 22 aircraft 2. Seoul fell to Communist NKPA forces in two days 3. General MacArthur warned of extensive collapse without US reinforcements from Japan 4. Acheson argued for intervention – invasion of Korea was a breach of US-Soviet agreement of 1945 and the UN recognition of the legitimacy of South Korea. Acheson argued UN had obligation to defend sovereign states. 5. Acheson argued the attack was orchestrated by Soviet forces – intervention had to be taken to stop aggression of Stalin. His attitude was conditioned by memories of the failures of events in 1930’s when Hitler and Mussolini were not stopped. Stalin needed to be stopped – did not view Kim Il Sung as behind the attack. Concerns over China too. 6. The invasion seemed to be like Stalin was testing the West like he had in the Berlin Blockade of 1947-48

12. US involvement: 7. Acheson involves UN. Security Council adopt resolution (9-0) to condemn attack and call for withdrawal from the South 8. Lucky that USSR had withdrawn from UN over it’s failure to recognise Mao’s government in China – USSR not there to block UN resolution 9. 25th June 1950 Truman chaired crucial meeting. Dean Rusk (assistant to Acheson) argued Communist Korea could become a ‘dagger pointed at the heart of Japan’. Japan a vital US interest. Included in US defence perimeter and vital industrial producer. 10. Others stress general need to stem Soviet aggression 11. Decided US would offer naval and air support and press for UN military support 12. Decision to act gained unanimous support and from US citizens – House of Representatives vote 315 -4 to extend the draft law enabling government to call up young men to fight. Truman under pressure not to be ‘soft on Communism’ 13. 27th June UN Security Council authorise use of force to assist South Korea – US forces would act under a UN flag. Truman described it as a ‘Police Action under the UN’. US deployed two divisions to Korea on 30th June. US at war in practice if not in theory

13. Why did the US get involved? Match up the factor (reason) with it’s POINT