Why hasn't the US stopped the Korean War? What does it have to gain?

Question

A half century ago, the US was unwilling to allow for the democratic self determination of the Korean peninsula and decided instead to set up a dictatorship in the south. What has it had to gain by imposing the division of the peninsula? Why did the US invade Korea when its people were engaged in a civil war over the terms of unification? What does it have to gain?
S. Korea's Pres. asks Bush: Why not stop the Korean War?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070907/ap_on_re_au_an/bush;_ylt=AgDfAc51ahaiTTMGd4s6ystvaA8F

"The dictator is in the North, not South."
The US imposed Syngman Rhee over the southern territory it occupied after WWII.
In the North there was a popular movement which fought the Japanese and put Kim il-Sung in power.
During the Cold War, living standards were higher on the North than in the South.
Today, after the fall of the Soviet block and in the face of US bullying, things are much different. Still, one has to wonder why the US is so committed to bullying a tiny country for having a different governing style.

UN acted as a proxy of the US. How else do you explain that the whole affair was directed by Gen. MacArthur?

By the way, I am a history graduate with a particular interest in the Cold War. The formal casus belli was a N. Korean incursion into S. Korea. Yet very many incursions had occurred before the one which ignited the war. In fact, both sides had invaded each other plenty and had been involved in many skirmishes before. Why did the US invade when it looked like the North would win?
I reiterate, the Soviets withdrew leaving a domestic government in power. The US never left and put up and unpopular and brutal dictator.
I suggest you stop believing the lies of the same people who invented the Tonkin incident and the Iraqi WMD's.

Answer 1

Let me get this right, North Korea was invading South Korea, but in reality it was the U.S. that was posing the threat to democratic self determination and the invavion from the north was merely a dispute over the terms of unification?? Where do you get this nonsense?

S. Korea asked the U.S. for support against the North, that is why we got involved. The U.S. asked the U.N. to get involved.
It is not up to the U.S. to "End the War"... it is up the U.N. and also up to North Korea.

Personally, I think the U.S. should get out of Korea. Our presence there is no longer appreciated by the South. If N. Korea takes that as a sign of weakness and decides to invade the South again, I'm sure the South can take care of themselves. If not, oh well. On the other hand, maybe it would allow an opportunity for the 2 sides to improve their relations with each other. But alas, such a simple solution is probably not possible, because other allies in the region are scared to death of North Korea, and such a move would endanger them.

Answer 2

Jump on the bandwagon about something you know nothing about. First, Bush cannot end the war, only the UN can. Second, why would we seek to end the war while the North is failing to comply with the directives involving their nuclear program?
The South has nothing to gain by reunification. Do you think the north will just decide not to be a communist dictatorship?

Answer 3

Even with the clarity of hindsight, your education has failed you. Anyone who would suggest that 'unification' at the cost of oppression and a total loss of freedom and human rights is a good thing is ignorant beyond help. The only 'self determination' was determined at the point of a gun. Submit to communism or die. You make it sound like the free nations of the world got in between a free and democratic election. You also forget, or did not know that this was a U.N. war, not an American war.

Still, I find it interesting that you don't suggest that the communist north submit to the free and democratic south. That's very telling and illustrates your extraordinary ignorance.

Answer 4

why didn't the us stop that asteroid from hitting Venus a few years ago why don't they get rid of all the drugs growing in Mexico why don't they rebuild Russia

why because they cant it isn't there place we can help when we are asked to or some times we do something when we are attacked or if there is a threat like when the leader of a country ---- say Iraq -- says they want to kill as many us citizens a possible we may remove that leader and help to educate the people and give them the freedoms we enjoy

Answer 5

History is not your strong subject or who ever taught you history.

It was the UN that went into Korea on behalf of South Korea.

I suggest you go to a library and read other sources.

Answer 6

hmmm your a bit weak in history
the communist forces attacked the south, no vote , no self determination.
the UN security council voted to protect the south and sent forces
the USA has tried for decades to end the war with the nth but the nth is crazy as bed bugs
did you know the current leader claims to had the most number of holes in one in history during his first game and his father invented airplanes, space flight and television?

Answer 7

the Korean War was a mandated UN resloution -- again u should check ur history -- invade Korea??? ur kidding right--
this was a United Nations resloution -- guess u are a product of our liberal education system -- i.e., only know zip about history, but everything about "feel good stuff"....

Answer 8

Korea is not at war.
The dictator is in the North, not South.
Stop reading all that nonsense the US news machine dishes out

Answer 9

I seem to recall that this was a UN war. Why doesn't the UN stop the war?

And don't say, "Well, the US should get the UN to stop the war." We apparantly don't have any say at the UN anymore.

Answer 10

Good grief, that is a rather bizarre rendition of history. Try reading a real history book before posting this type of question.