korean war?

Question

i graduated from highschool last year and was talking to someone the other day.. and came to the conclusion.. we were never taught anything about the korean war?? what was it about?? how did it start?? and why wasnt i taught it?!

Answer 1

The Korean War, occurring between June 25, 1950, and a ceasefire on July 27, 1953, was a war fought in Korea that was divided by the post-World War II Soviet and American occupation zones, with large-scale participation by other countries. The war began with the invasion of capitalist South Korea by forces in communist North Korea in 1950 and ended as a stalemate between the sides in 1953.

The principal support on the side of the North was China, with limited assistance by Soviet combat advisors, military pilots, and weapons. South Korea was supported by United Nations (UN) forces, principally from the United States, although many other nations also contributed personnel. When the conflict began, North and South Korea existed as provisional governments competing for control over the Korean peninsula after the Division of Korea.

In South Korea, the war is often called 6·25, from the date of the start of the conflict or, more formally, Han-guk Jeonjaeng (Korean: 한국전쟁, literally "Korean War"). In North Korea, it is formally called the Fatherland Liberation War (Korean: 조국해방전쟁). In the United States, the conflict was officially termed a police action — the Korean Conflict — rather than a war, largely in order to avoid the necessity of a declaration of war by the U.S. Congress. The war is sometimes referred to outside Korea as "The Forgotten War" because it is a major conflict of the 20th century that garners far less attention than World War II, which preceded it, and the controversial Vietnam War, which succeeded it. In China, the conflict was known as the War to Resist America and Aid Korea (抗美援朝), but is today commonly called the "Korean War" (朝鮮戰爭, Chaoxian Zhanzheng).[6]

North Korean attack
The North Korean army struck in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, June 25, 1950, crossing the 38th parallel behind a firestorm of artillery.[15]

Equipped with 150 Soviet-made T-34 tanks, the North Korean military began the war with about 180 aircraft, including 40 YAK fighters and 70 attack bombers. The navy was inconsequential. The most serious weakness was its lack of a reliable logistics system for moving supplies south as the army advanced. (In practice, it forced thousands of Korean civilians to hand-carry supplies, many of whom later died in American air attacks.)

Nevertheless, the North's well-planned attack with about 135,000 troops achieved surprise and quick successes.[16] North Korea attacked many key places including Kaesŏng, Chuncheon, Uijeongbu and Ongjin.

Within days, South Korean forces, outnumbered, outgunned, and often of dubious loyalty to the southern regime, were in full retreat or often defected en masse to the North. As the ground attack continued, the North Korean Air Force conducted bombing on Kimpo Airport near Seoul. North Korean forces occupied Seoul on the afternoon of June 28. But the North's hopes for a quick surrender by the Rhee government and the disintegration of the South Korean Army went up in smoke when foreign powers intervened. They did not expect the war to last long enough for American intervention, so there were no significant defenses prepared against American air attacks.

The South Korean Army had 65,000 soldiers armed, trained, and equipped by the U.S. military, and as a force was deficient in armour and artillery. There were no large foreign combat units in the country when the civil war began, but there were large American forces stationed in nearby Japan.[17]


Western Reaction
The invasion of South Korea came as a surprise to the United States and other western powers; in the preceding week, Dean Acheson of the State Department had told Congress on June 20 no such war was likely. Contacted hours after the invasion had begun, Truman was convinced the initial stages of World War III had commenced.

The same day the civil war had officially begun (June 25), the United Nations immediately drafted UNSC Resolution 82, which was unanimously passed in the Security Council since the Russian ambassador was boycotting the UN at the time. This led to direct action by the United States and other U.N. members. The Resolution [4]called for three things:

for all hostilities to end and North Korea to withdraw to the 38th Parallel;
for a U.N. Commission on Korea to be formed to monitor the situation and report to the Security Council;
for all U.N. members to support the United Nations in achieving this, and refrain from providing assistance to the North Korean authorities.
Later, debates would arise over the legality of this resolution since it sponsored U.N. intervention into a civil war. Though the resolution passed, it is thought that had the USSR not been boycotting the UN at the time, the Soviets likely would have used their veto to cancel the resolution.

American action was taken for a number of reasons. Truman, a Democratic president, was under severe domestic pressure for being too soft on communism by, among others, Republican senator Joseph McCarthy. Especially outspoken were those who accused the Democrats of having lost China to the communists. The intervention also was an important implementation of the new Truman Doctrine, which advocated the opposition of communism wherever it tried to expand. The lessons of Munich in 1938 also influenced the American decision, leading them to believe that appeasing aggressive states would only encourage further expansion.

Instead of pressing for a congressional declaration of war, which he regarded as too alarmist and time-consuming when time was of the essence, Truman went to the United Nations for approval. (He would later come under harsh criticism for not consulting Congress before sending troops.)

Thanks to a temporary Soviet absence from the Security Council — the Soviets were boycotting the Security Council to protest the exclusion of People's Republic of China (PRC) from the UN — there was no veto by Stalin and the (Nationalist-controlled) Republic of China government held the Chinese seat. Without Soviet and Chinese vetoes, and with only Yugoslavia abstaining, the UN voted to aid South Korea on June 27. U.S. forces were joined by troops from 15 other U.N. members: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Britain, France, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Greece, the Netherlands, Ethiopia, Colombia, the Philippines, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

The Soviet Union and its allies, however, challenged the resolution on grounds of illegality since a permanent member of the council (Soviet Union) was absent from the voting. The North Korean government also did not concur. In 1950, A Soviet resolution calling for an end of hostilities and withdrawal of foreign troops was rejected.[18]

Although American opinion was solidly behind the venture, Truman would later take harsh criticism for not obtaining a declaration of war from Congress before sending troops to Korea. Thus, "Truman's War" was said by some to have violated the spirit, and the letter, of the United States Constitution. The other foreign powers allied with the United States quickly agreed with American actions, volunteering their support for the intervention. Sixteen nations finally contributed to "UN forces", but the United States provided 50 percent of the ground forces (South Korea provided most of the remainder), 86 percent of the naval power, and 93 percent of the air power.[19]

Liberation of South Korea

In the face of these overwhelming reinforcements, the North Korean forces found themselves undermanned with weak logistical support, and lacking naval and air support that could match the Americans. In order to alleviate pressure on the Pusan Perimeter, MacArthur, as U.N.commander-in-chief for Korea, ordered an amphibious landing far behind the North Korean troops at Inchon.

The violent tides made this an extremely risky operation, but once the American and other U.N. troops gained a foothold on the beach on September 15, it was successful. MacArthur initiated his attack with the landing far behind the North Korean lines at Inchon (인천; 仁川). MacArthur had started planning a few days after the war began but had been strongly opposed by the Pentagon. When he finally received permission, MacArthur activated X Corps under General Edward Almond (comprising 70,000 troops of the 1st Marine Division and the Army's 7th Infantry Division (United States) and augmented by 8,600 Korean troops) and ordered them to land at Inchon in "Operation CHROMITE".

The landing was a decisive victory, as X Corps rolled over the few defenders and threatened to trap the main North Korean army. MacArthur quickly recaptured Seoul. The North Koreans, almost cut off, rapidly retreated northwards; about 25,000 to 30,000 made it back.[21]


Invasion of North Korea
The United Nations troops drove the North Koreans back past the 38th parallel. The American goal of saving South Korea's government had been achieved, but because of the success and the prospect of uniting all of Korea under the government of Syngman Rhee, the Americans - with UN approval[citations needed] - continued the advance into North Korea. This marked a crucial moment in American foreign policy, when the American leaders decided to go beyond simply "containing" perceived communist threats to actual rollback. Other issues included the psychological effects of destroying a Communist nation and the liberation of POWs.

The U.N. forces crossed into North Korea in early October 1950. The U.S. X Corp made amphibious landings at Wonsan and Iwon, which had already been captured by South Korean forces advancing by land. The rest of the U.S. army, along with the South Koreans, drove up the Western side of Korea and captured Pyongyang on October 19. By the end of October the North Korean Army was rapidly disintegrating and the U.N. took 135,000 prisoners.

The U.N. offensive greatly concerned the Chinese, who worried that the UN forces would not stop at the Yalu River, the border between the DPRK and China, and extend their rollback policy into China itself. Many in the West, including General MacArthur, thought that spreading the war to China would be necessary. However, Truman and the other leaders disagreed, and MacArthur was ordered to be very cautious when approaching the Chinese border. Eventually, MacArthur disregarded these concerns, arguing that since the North Korean troops were being supplied by bases in China, those supply depots should be bombed. However, except on some rare occasions U.N. bombers remained out of Manchuria during the war.

FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION CLICK THE LINK ON THE SOURCE TAB BELOW.

Answer 2

At the end of WW2, the world map was being re-drawn by the victorious allies. Korea was a casualty of this, since the country was divided in two, as a form of stop gap measure, along the 38th parralel.

The North would be controled by Communists and the South by a more Western friendly govt. This suited the Chinees, since it meant that it did not have a Western country on its doorstep. North Korea was a buffer zone.

It was also heavily arned by the Russians, as the cold war developed. The South wasn't.

Consequently, once the North had enough Soviet arms to feel confident, including the T34/85, a very good tank, they attacked the South, in order to unify the country. The Western governments, primarily under the UN banner, decided that this was flouting their international rule. A force was put together, primarily under American control, but with strong international involvment, in order to defeat the Commies.

After beating back the attacks in the South, The Americans launched an anphibious assault further North. Anyway, after this it was prety much over for the North Koreans, who were pushed back over the 38th parralel. Unfortunately, this was not enough for the allied commander, who continued the pusuit all the way to the Chinese border. This made the Chinese nervouse, see above, and so they began sending troups into the country. After some initial success, the Allies were pushed South to the 38th parralel. Stalemate ensued and eventually a treaty was signed so that the countries were again split along the 38th parralel.

Luck

Answer 3

There is nothing wrong with the 'critical reasoning' approach to history (it's called other things, but the history wars in the US and elsewhere are designed to service the idea that history is a simply 'story' that should be accepted without any real question- it's a political agenda. The problem is that history in whatever form is not respected or taught- for example any student of history would have warned about the likely consequences of attacking Iraq, but the anti critical reasoning Republicans are in fact anti-history and anti-intellectual in the broad sense). But I digress.

History is the collective memory of the human race and you can't learn everything in a few years of high school... which is why you shouldn't expect to leave knowing everything, and why you should always be learning more history. Education used to be about providing a 'rounded knowledge' but in recent years business has demanded more 'vocational' course to save them having to train staff: so you probably studied law or auto maintenance or media studies instead of the basics. This is where the real 'history war' should be fought but you won't find the pro-business right wing complaining about the fact that, in Australia, working at McDonald's can contribute toward your school certificate (in the dubious subject of 'hospitality').

The Korean War was the opening conflict of many to come- a proxy war in which the former WW2 allies- Russia on one side and the Western nations on the other, began fighting each other by provoking civil wars within smaller nations.

The Soviet-backed North Korea attacked the South, hoping to finish the war quickly and present the world with a 'fait accompli'. The South Koreans held on long enough for the US and other nationsto get them military support. Once deployed, the US made a landing behind North Korean lines at Inchon, and utterly defeated their forces. A crucial issue was that the United Nations backed the effort to defend South Korea- this began the postwar, pre-Bush trend of wars tending to be ligitimate only with some UN sanction.

With the North Korean army in disarray, there was little to stop the UN forces invading the North and approaching the Chinese border. This was very threatening to the then-new Communist Chinese regime. They administered sharp attacks to the UN spearhead troops, as a warning, before withdrawing over the border. The UN commander- the bellicose and over-rated Douglas MacArthur, failed to understand the warning and kept advancing, with the result that the Chinese became involved, launched a major counterattack, and drove the UN forces back to roughly the original border. Here the war became a stalemate: the UN had too much firepower for the Chinese to advance, the UN troops had liberated South Korea and had little interest in sacrificing many lives to drive the Chinese out.

Peace talks went on for two years, while fighting flared up and down. Eventually a ceasefire was declared, but no real resolution to the conflict beyond that. The front lines of 1953 are still the border today.

With Vietnam yet to happen, the treatment of Korean War veterans was pretty rough: compared to the victorious heroes of World War 2, many in the West saw the war as less intense, with less at stake, and without a clear victory... hence 'the forgotten war'.

Answer 4

The Korean War has often been refered to as the forgotten war. It's not popular, because there was no clear winner and it was otherwise not controversial like Vietnam.

Essentially, North Korea invaded South Korea. And for some reason, the United Nations decided to intervene and kick out the invaders.

A large UN for, mostly Americans was sent to defend South Korea. They easily defeated the North Koreans and proceeded to conquer/occupy North Korea. The Yalu river defines the border between North Korea and China, and as the UN forces began to get close to the river, the Chinese attacked. They claimed they felt threatened by the UN force. The massive well equipped Chinese army pushed back the UN forces, surrounding them in a little pocket in South Korea.

At this point, partially due to reinforcements, and partly from tactics the UN forces were able to go back on the offensive. Eventually they declared a cease fire and the current border was established. One interesting point, the war never technically ended. The fighting was from 1950 - 1953, but they are still under a cease fire, not a peace treaty.

Basically this war was between the communists and the rest of the world. North Korea and China were both communist. And the USSR was providing much support to them. In fact, there were several stalled attempts to stop the fighting because Joseph Stalin was determined to win. When he died, it became much easier to stop the fighting.

The fighting was nasty and the terrain was brutal. But it was only five years after World War Two, and the US people just never got behind this war like they had in WW2. And since it ended in a tense draw, they really never did feel good about it.

It's not taught in schools much for those reasons, and because nowadays they talk about the great US victory in the cold war. They don't discuss the fear, paranoia and losses of that extended conflict.

So they go from the "good war" of WW2 straight to the drama and controversy of Vietnam. It's a disservice to the men and women that died there, but that's the reality of it.

If you have any other questions, contact me and I'll try to answer them for you.

Answer 5

180 days of instruction for a high school American History Course, well over 200 years of history. Figure in covering a major theme or era per week, more than a week for topics like the Civil War, Civil Rights, and World War II.
Most likely, the Korean War was mentioned as part of the Cold War folded in with Viet Nam, which ended up having a much greater effect on the US than the Korean War, so it'd dominate that section. Pretty easy to have Korea boiled down to a few minutes of a single class. I don't mean to insult Korean War Vets here, but reflecting on various conflicts, Korea is pretty far down the list.

Most colleges have hit the point where covering the same amount of time from colonial to present takes four semesters. The one year of American History thing has been fairly standard for the last fifty years, and now we have fifty more years of history, but what do you push out to fit more history courses in the required course work?

Answer 6

The goal was that, i think to become a allied nation because in world war2 it was almost impossible for US to stay neutral, and also they became the leader of the United Nations. I think the fear was that the Japanese will gain territories in Korea and there they could get useful resources to use in war, in World War 2 the Axis Nations started to conquer countries so, everyone was afraid that there will be a second world war if they helped the country the axis nations were conquering and due to the same reason the US government had feared that if they don't help Korea soon another World War may began and If there is Wolrd War 3 no human will survive.

Answer 7

Korean War

War from 1950 to 1953 between North Korea (supported by China) and South Korea , aided by the United Nations (the troops were mainly US). North Korean forces invaded South Korea on 25 June 1950, and the Security Council of the United Nations, owing to a walk - out by the USSR, voted to oppose them. The North Koreans held most of the South when US reinforcements arrived in September 1950 and forced their way through to the North Korean border with China. The Chinese retaliated, pushing them back to the original boundary by October 1950 ; truce negotiations began in 1951, although the war did not end until 1953.

By September 1950 the North Koreans had overrun most of the South, with the UN forces holding a small area, the Pusan perimeter, in the southeast. The course of the war changed after the surprise landing of US troops later the same month at Inchon on South Korea's northwest coast. The troops, led by General Douglas MacArthur , fought their way through North Korea to the Chinese border in little over a month. On 25 October 1950 Chinese troops attacked across the Yalu River, driving the UN forces below the 38th parallel . Truce talks began in July 1951, and the war ended two years later, with the restoration of the original boundary on the 38th parallel.

The 1951 armistice was signed with North Korea, but South Korea did not participate, and a peace treaty did not follow. The Korean peninsula remained a Cold War battleground.

The Korean War was the first incidence of the two Cold War superpowers, the USA and the USSR, fighting for control over other countries. Although the USSR was not directly involved in the Korean War, it supplied arms to the communist Chinese government in order to support communism in North Korean. For both sides the Korean War demonstrated their determination to protect countries that they saw as friendly and of similar ideological intent. By saving South Korea from destruction by communist North Korea , the USA demonstrated its willingness to intervene in any part of the world. Asia was seen as a key battleground in the struggle between capitalism and democracy on the one hand, and communism on the other. The two Koreas had minimal contact until the late 1990s, and their border remained the most heavily militarized in the world.

Answer 8

You graduated from high school without learning about the Korean War? Did you actually have a history class at your school?

I'll answer your last question first: the reason you didn't learn about Korea is because your school is pathetic, and probably focused on "critical reasoning" instead of actual teaching. As a result, your classmates are grossly ignorant compared to graduates 10 or 20 years ago. It's not your fault, but you need to do something about it.

This isn't the place for a nutshell discussion of one of the most important conflicts of the 20th Century. Check out Wikipedia or, even better, go to a library and read a book on the subject.

Answer 9

prob. because 1) it was relatively modern and 2) it was an embarassment to the U.S.

its often called the "forgotten war"

it showcased the effectiveness of simple chinese soldiers and their rifles, overwhelming the westerners with numbers and night-time raids

i dispute the above commenter's claim that the soviets helped alot... after all, the chinese were angry aid was limited (cite wikipedia)

Answer 10

south korea fought with north korea
russia helped the north while america helped the south

Answer 11

watch the show M*A*S*H..it takes place in the korean war!