How To Write An Essay On The Korean War

Anya Rodriguez

Korean War

The Korean War began when North Korean leader, Kim II Song, wanted to unite the peninsula under communism influence. As a result of the cold war, Korea was split into two regions (North and South). Both with separate governments but they claimed to be legitimate. Neither regions never accepted the border between them to be permanent. Tension started to rise when North Korea forces, which were supported by the soviet Union and China, invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950. This marked the beginning of the Korean War.

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Background

Important People

Kim II-sung

Douglas McArthur

Syngman Rhee

Important Events

Battle of Inchon

Syngman and the Summer of Terror

Battle of Osan

Sources

Date: June 25, 1950 - July 27, 1953

Conflict: Cold War
Location: Korean peninsula, Sea of Japan, Yellow Sea, Korean Strait, China-North Korea Border.
Combatants: United states, South Korea vs. North Korea, China
Important Participants: South Korea, United Nations, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Turkey, Australia, Philippines, New Zealand, Thailand, Ethiopia, Greece, France, Colombia, Belgium, South Africa, Netherlands, Luxembourg, North Korea, China, Soviet Union

Background
Korea has been seen as a valuable property to other nations in east Asia because of the resources it has.

North Korea had a lot of natural resources and a source for hydroelectric power along with South Korea and its agricultural breadbasket. Russians were expanding and keeping a close eyes on Korea’s natural resources.The Soviet Union considered the Korean peninsula and Manchuria to be very important for their own benefit but japan worried that Russia would expand into Korea. Korea wasnt a fan of Japan by World War II. They were mostly pro-Soviet. Korea borrowed from developments in Russia and became Communist

themselves.

Important People

Kim Il-sung
(Kim Song-Ju) Born April 15, 1912 - died July 8, 1994. Kim Il-sung was the president of North Korea and Communist leader. During WWII, he lead a contingent as a major in the Soviet Army. After the surrender of Japan in 1945, Korea was divided into two regions. A Soviet-occupied northern half and a U.S.-supported southern half which caused a lot of tension. Kim hoped to unify Korea, so he invaded South Korea in 1950 which was the start of the Korean War. Kim established a motto for the country, juche, or “self-reliance,” which meant he wanted to build their economy with little or no help of other countries. It worked for a while until the country started to experience food shortage.

Douglas MacArthur
Born in January 26, 1880 - died April 5, 1964.

Douglas was an American general that commanded the Southwest Pacific in World War II, and led United Nations forces in the Korean War. He led the forces at the beginning of the War but later had conflict with president Harry Truman over war policy and was removed from command. The general assured Truman that the chances of a Chinese intervention were slim.

Syngman Rhee

Born in April 18, 1875 - died July 19, 1965. Syngman Rhee was a South Korean politician and then later became the first president of South Korea. In 1919 Rhee was elected president of the Korean Provisional Government. He returned to Hawaii in 1925 but remained president of the Government for 20 years. Rhee relocated to Washington, D.C., and spent WWII trying to secure the Allied promises of Korean independence. After the war Rhee returned to Korea and began his political campaign and later became president of South Korea.

Important Events

Battle of

Inchon
On September 15, 1950, The battle of Inchon took place during the Korean war at the port of Inchon in west coast of Korea. The code name for this operation was Operation Chromite. The opposing sides in the battle were the United Nations troops, which also included United States troops, United Kingdom, Canada, France and South Korea against North Korean forces. The United Nations and South Korean forces were commanded by Douglas McArthur. The location for landong had been said to be to risky, but Douglas MacArthur had insisted on carrying out the landing at Inchon. Afterward, the American-led United Nations force was able to break the North Korean supply lines and recapture Seoul. United Nation forces defeated North Korea at this battle which changed the course of the war.

Syngman Rhee and the Summer of Terror
In a response to North Korea’s invasion to South Korea, President Syngman Rhee ordered his military to wipe out the threat North Korea put in South Korea. Threat consisted of political prisoners and leftist dissidents, which he fear they will join forces with other communist invaders. His solution in all this madness is for Rhee’s forces to execute more than 10,000 people, including women and children, In the event called the "Summer of Terror."
Sources

https://www.shmoop.com/korean-war/timeline.html
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/korea-1.htm
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kim-Il-Sung
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Syngman-Rhee
https://www.history.com/topics/inchon