• The USA viewed the Korean War as part of the Soviet’s plan to threaten the “free world” by spreading communism. Hence, the US’s leaders justified its involvement in the war as an act to defend its world by confronting communism.

• The USA was worried of the spread of communism in the world.
  • Communism had spread quickly and taken over countries in Eastern Europe, and some in the Far East
  • The USA feared that one by one, countries in the world will fall into communism (Domino Theory). The Soviet’s establishment of the COMINFORM, an organization that spreads communism propaganda, seemed to be the evidence of this.
  • The recent loss of China to the communists further pressurized the US government to be tougher on communism.
• To stop the spread of communism
  • Although South Korea was not mentioned to be under the “protective belt” of USA, Truman did not want the fall of South Korea into the communists, as he was believed that this will led to the fall of Japan as well.
  • The NSC 68 report recommended the USA to confront communism or the Soviets would continue to spread communism and threaten the “free world”

• The USA also viewed the war as a change in the way communism was spread. The USA communists had begun to use aggression to take over a country.
  • This led the USA to mistake Korea as a distraction and that the Soviets might attack from Europe. The USA hence expanded its NATO forces.
• To the USA, this is too a proxy war to confront communism without having direct conflict with the USSR. Because of the Cold War, the USA was competing with USSR for world superiority.

• President during the Korean War, until the 1953 election. He was in office from April 12, 1945 to January 20, 1953.
• During the Korean War, Truman decided on a roll-back policy to rid communists off the North Korea, after gaining the UN approval.
• However, Truman wanted to limit the war to the Korean peninsula only, and later on, at the prewar border (the 38th parallel).
  
  • Firstly, Truman was worried that further escalation of the war might draw the USSR in. The USSR was already supplying both China and North Korea with weapons and warplanes.
  • Secondly, it would be too costly to defeat the North Koreans. When the Korean War broke out, USA military planners did not expect it and thus were materially and intellectually unprepared. Plus, Truman administration was facing other problems as well.
• To Truman, this is too a proxy war to confront communism without having direct conflict with the USSR. Truman realized that the USA was competing with USSR for world superiority

• General MacArthur led the UN forces in the counterattack on North Koreans during the Korean War. His counterattack was successful after an amphibious landing at the Battle of Inchon. The North Koreans had to retreat in risk of being trapped.
• However, General MacArthur had different views on how extensive the war should be with President Truman. He encouraged widening the war to hit Chinese bases in Manchuria.
  • MacArthur believed that communism was spreading quickly in Asia than in Europe, and that it is more important to focus on protecting Asia from communism instead of too much on Europe. He believed that if Asia falls to the communist, Europe would soon be as well.
  • This is a segment of a letter from MacArthur critical of President Truman's limited-war strategy:

• Eisenhower replaced Truman as US president on January 20, 1953
• He ended the Korean War with the signing of an armistice agreement

• China viewed the war as a form of US oppression and intervention in both Korean and inter-Chinese affairs. China justified its involvement in the war as an act to fight against US imperialism and aid Korea.
  

• China hated America because of its support to Chiang Kai-Shek’s government, the opposition of China
  • During the Chinese Civil War, the US supported the nationalist side by providing arms
  • With America’s help, Chiang Kai-Shek’s government in Taiwan had been able to with invasions from People’s Republic of China
• China felt threatened by the US
  • The US entry into the Korean War and the transfer of the seventh US-fleet into the Taiwan Strait was view as a plan to launch a full-scale war against China
  • China felt even more threatened when UN troops pushed back the North Korea Army up to the Chinese-Korean border at river Yalu. China did not want a hostile Korea under US control at its border.

• China was under pressure from USSR to help North Korea when North Korea was losing the war
• Mao Zedong believed a war with USA in the future was unavoidable, because the USA would not accept communist China. Thus, the Chinese might as well chose the date and place of this war and let it be Korea.
  • Mao was also afraid that an invasion of China will have the Soviets to send troops according to the Sino-Soviet treaty
  • Either American or Russian troops would occupy China’s land, and Mao find both unacceptable

• Mao Zedong was the Chairman of the Communist Party of China
• Mao Zedong reluctantly gave Kim II Sung the approval to invade South Korea before the Korean War broke out.
  • Mao was afraid North Korean invasion might affect his other priorities, such as economy recovery and claiming Taiwan
  • However, he did not want to go against with Stalin, a recognized communist leader and whom Mao had just signed a mutual assistance agreement with
• Mao Zedong made the decision to send the People's Volunteer Army into Korea when UN troops pushed back the North Korea Army up to the Chinese-Korean border at river Yalu. Mao also supervised the PVA campaigns in the Korean War.
  
  

• The supreme commander of the People’s Volunteer Army during the Korean War

• Before North Korea’s invasion, Russia extensively armed North Korean army and air forces to help North Korean take over the whole of the Korean peninsula.
• Russia also helped to provide some air cover for the Chinese troops
• However, as compared to China, USSR involvement was little

• Leader of the Soviet Union
• Stalin reluctantly gave Kim II Sung the approval to invade South Korea, after discussing with Mao Zedong.
  • Stalin did not want to risk war with the UgSA
  • However, this would affect his reputation if he did not even support a communist ally
• Stalin did not want USSR to be involved much in the war however, as he did not want to be responsible for any mistakes. Thus, Stalin push this responsibility to the Chinese.

  "If you should get kicked in the teeth, I shall not lift a finger. You have to ask Mao for all the help."
  

  Stalin reportedly said to Kim in Moscow
  

• Stalin also view this war as a proxy war to confront America without having direct conflict with the USA

• North Korea described themselves as the liberators of South Korea from the corrupt and capitalist government.
• However, North Korea actual motive was to reunify Korea under communism

• Leader of North Korea
• Kim II Sung made the decision to invade South Korea as he believed that the USA would not intervene
  • The USA pulled out their troops from Korea in 1949 and did not mentioned South Korea under its “protective belt” in Asia.

• South Korea viewed the war as a communist invasion. The North Korean army’s brutal persecution and needless killings turned the South Koreans against the invaders.

• President of South Korea during the Korea War
• He was partly responsible for triggering the war as he boasted that he was going to attack North Korea, hence giving North Korea a good excuse to attack South Korea.
• He was also partly responsible for the delay of war
  • Rhee did not want to have a ceasefire as that would leave Korea divided. He wanted to be the leader of a united Korea. Thus, he would often try to veto any peace plan.
  • Rhee also quarrelled for stronger methods to be used against China.
• Unpopular
  • Before the war, Rhee government was already corrupted. Rhee was also very harsh on communists and left-wing sympathizers.
  • Rhee wanted the citizens of Seoul to remain in the city when war broke out while he escaped. His decision to cut the bridges on the Han River also prevented thousands of citizens from running away. These acts of irresponsibility damaged his reputation.

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