Comparing The Korean War And The Vietnam War

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The Cold War era saw numerous conflicts between the United States and the Soviet Union, with two of the most significant being the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Both wars were marked by intense fighting, long tensions, unwavering allies, and complex geopolitics. The United States played a central role in both conflicts, with huge military involvement and political implications. The Korean War and the Vietnam War were significant because they profoundly impacted America’s military strategy, public perception, and global standing. The Korean and Vietnam Wars were deeply rooted in the ideological struggle of the Cold War. The end of World War II had left the entire world in a state of tension and division, particularly between the superpowers of the United States and the Soviet Union. The Korean War …show more content…

When the Japanese finally surrendered in 1945, the US, under an agreement with the Soviet Union sent a force of three US Army divisions to Korea to disarm and repatriate 400,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians. The Soviets had already invaded and occupied the communist northern Korea. They had temporarily divided the country by the 38th parallel to stop further conflicts. The UN sponsored the creation of the Republic of Korea in 1948 and elected nationalist leader, Syngman Rhee. During the first stage of the Korean War, the South Koreans with American military support won the war of 1948-1950. Kim, Stalin and Mao Zedong decided to invade South Korea in 1950 as they assumed that would be the time that the Americans would not intervene with South Korea too much. The two sides kept fighting in a ruthless battle until on July 17, 1953, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed, ending the Korean War. Both sides agreed to stop the fighting in the current Demilitarized Zone. In contrast, the Vietnam War’s roots lie in the legacy of French colonialism and the rise of communism in Southeast

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