Situation of NKorea & Skorea

SKorean naval ship sinks near NKorea; 40 missing

By JEAN H. LEE, Associated Press Writer – Fri Mar 26, 6:03 pm ET

SEOUL, South Korea – Word that a South Korean naval ship sank in the tense waters around the disputed maritime border with communist North Korea set off panic: The president convened an emergency meeting and the military dispatched a fleet of ships.

Five hours later, 58 sailors had been pulled to safety but some 40 others were missing, reports said. There was no indication early Saturday that North Korea was to blame for the ship's demise, but troops kept a vigilant watch.

Seoul's panic attack — hours after North Korea's military threatened "unpredictable strikes" against the U.S. and South Korea — highlighted the fragility of peace on the divided Korean peninsula.

The two Koreas remain locked in a state of war because their three-year conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, in 1953.

Since then, the two Koreas have fought three bloody skirmishes in theYellow Sea waters. And in January, North Korea fired about 30 artillery rounds not far from Baeknyeong; the South Korean military fired 100 warning shots in response.

The 1,200-ton "Cheonan" was on a routine patrolling mission near South Korea's Baeknyeong Island on Friday night with 104 crew members on board when the ship began taking on water, Rear Adm. Lee Ki-sik of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told reporters.

Unidentified military officials told South Korea's Yonhap news agency that an explosion tore a hole into the rear hull, shutting off the engine, wiping out the power and quickly taking the ship down. A number of crew members jumped into the water, Yonhap said.

Six naval ships and two coast guard vessels, as well as helicopters and ambulances, rushed to save the crew, Yonhap and military officials said. Troops scanned the skies for an attack, at one point firing shots at what officials later speculated was a flock of birds.

President Lee Myung-Bak, meanwhile, convened a late-night emergency meeting with his defense minister and other top military officials. After three hours, and no conclusion about what caused the ship to sink, they agreed to meet again Saturday, presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said..

Nearby Baeknyeong Island, four hours by boat from the South Korean port of Incheon but just 10 miles (20 kilometers) from North Korea, was turned into a triage center, with islanders helping to treat injured crew members, according to cable network YTN.

A naval official told Yonhap there were deaths among the sailors, and YTN said some 40 crew members were missing. However, military officials told the AP they could not confirm deaths, and said 58 sailors had been rescued, with two airlifted for emergency medical treatment.

The waters around Baeknyeong island are rocky, and some senior government officials speculated that the sinking may have been an accident, not an attack, South Korean media said.

"It's looking more and more like it was just an accident that happens on a ship," Carl Baker, an expert on Korean military relations at the Pacific Forum CSIS think tank in Honolulu, said by telephone.

He said Pyongyang was unlikely to attack the far more powerful South Korean military.

"The South Koreans are so much more capable these days than the North that it would be difficult for the miscalculation to happen because I think the North understands its lack of ability," he said.

President Lee ordered the military to focus on the rescue operation, he said

Using this article as a source, we can see that so many years after the start of the war, the tensions between the two Koreas still remain high. Also, we see that North Korea is still very much against US, this could be because North Korea is communist and US is not, or can also show us that US intervention in the Korean War had left a strong and deep mark on North Korea. Perhaps the US had intervened too much.

-Yuxiang

consequences of korean war

The Korean War was the first armed confrontation of the Cold War and set the standard for many later conflicts. It created the idea of a limited war, where the two superpowers would fight in another country, forcing the people in that nation to suffer the bulk of the destruction and death involved in a war between such large nations. The superpowers avoided descending into an all-out war with one another, as well as the mutual use of nuclear weapons. It also expanded the Cold War, which to that point had mostly been concerned with Europe.

The Korean War damaged both Koreas heavily. Although South Korea stagnated economically in the decade following the war, it was later able to modernize and industrialize. In contrast, the North Korean economy recovered quickly after the war and until around 1975 surpassed that of South Korea.[citation needed] However, North Korea's economy eventually slowed. Today, the North Korean economy is virtually nonexistent while the South Korean economy is expanding. The CIA World Factbook estimates North Korea's GDP (PPP) to be $40 billion, which is a mere 3.34% of South Korea's $1.196 trillion GDP (PPP). The North's per capita income is $1,800, which is 7.35% of South Korea's $24,500 per capita income.

A heavily guarded demilitarized zone (DMZ) on the 38th parallel continues to divide the peninsula today. Anti-Communist and anti-North Korea sentiment still remain in South Korea today, and most South Koreans are against the North Korean government. However, a "Sunshine Policy" is used by the controlling party, the Uri Party. The Uri Party and President Roh, the South Korean president, have often disagreed with the United States in talks about North Korea. The Grand National Party (GNP), the Uri Party's main opposing party, maintains an anti-North Korea policy today.

The war affected other nations as well. Turkey's participation in the war helped it become a NATO member.[citation needed]

According to a September 7, 2007 NPR report, U.S. President George W. Bush stated that it is his administration's position that a formal peace treaty with North Korea would be possible only when the North abandoned its nuclear weapons programs.[79] According to Bush, "We look forward to the day when we can end the Korean War. That will end — will happen when Kim verifiably gets rid of his weapons programs and his weapons."[80] Some have characterized this as a reversal of Bush's stated policy of regime change with respect to North Korea.[81]

At the second Inter-Korean Summit in October 2007, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il signed a joint declaration calling for international talks towards a peace treaty formally ending the war.

-Yuxiang

interferences---what extent?

Our group feels that the extent of interferences during the Korean War was high.
Firstly, we can already see that there were a number of countries and organization(the UN, which indirectly included many other countries) had been involved. This made the Korean War more "globalized", and not just restricted among Korea. Also, we can see that countries like US had spent quite a sum of money on the War, this may mean that intervening was very important to them, so thus the extent would have been quite great.

A possible extension of our research, could be on the intervention in the present time. Instead of focusing on the extent of intervention during the actual war itself, we can look at how other countries get involved in the situation between north and south Korea. For example, from the recent clashes between north and south korea, we can investigate the stand other countries take regarding the situation.

-Valerie.

Resources expended on War

CHINA:
70% of the forces of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) were dispatched to Korea as the Chinese People's Volunteers (accumulated to 2.97 million) and with more than 600,000 civil workers.
Total deaths: 148,000
-114,000 died in combats, incidents, and winterkill
-21,000 died after being hospitalized
-13,000 died from diseases
-380,000 were wounded

There were also 29,000 missing, including 21,400 POWs, of whom 14,000 were sent to Taiwan, 7,110 were repatriated.

China spent 6.2 billion yuan in the war and owed US$1.3 billion to the USSR.

KOREA:

-290,000 casualties
-90,000 POWs.
Figures for casualties in North Korea are not available.

UNITED STATES:
-1.17 million troops sent to Korea
-33,000 were killed
-108,000 wounded
-3,700 captured.
- 53,000 died due to getting killed or in hospitals

-US$20 billion directly in the war.
-US$64 billion in total including war preparation and aid for South Korea.

Note that this was in 1953, "converting" the value now, it would be around $535 billion dollars.

We can see from these figures, that the US's expenditure was very high for the war, and this money was not that worth it as they really did not manage to win the war. The large armies sent from the US and China also showed us the magnitude of the war, it became on a much larger scale, if there was no intervention.

-Valerie.

Lessons of Korean War

The antagonism between the North Korean and South Korea spilled into direct warfare in 1950. At the end of the war, more than 3 million Koreans died while millions of refugees remained homeless and distressed. About 2 million Chinese and 55,000 Americans died in the war.

Because of the serious consequences, many countries involved in the Korean War learnt valuable lessons.

America learnt that there were risks associated with the policy of containment. More than 1 million people died in the Korean War and what initially began as a confrontation with North Korea quickly got out of hand when China, the country with the world’s largest army, intervened. America underestimated the Chinese. American troops ignored Chinese warnings and got too close to the Chinese border. In October 1950, 200,000 Chinese troops joined the North Koreans. These troops had been taught to hate the Americans and were prepared to die for Communism. They also had modern weapons supplied by the USSR.

America also learnt that even though it was by far the most powerful country in the world there were limits to its power. Containment was a policy that had its limitations. It was okay when they attempted to contain the spread of communism but when America tried to go further and force the Communists out of North Korea, it did not expect the rapid escalation that followed.

If America wanted to confront communism, it had to proceed with caution. The American General-in-charge, MacArthur, was sacked by President Truman because he wanted to free South Korea, remove the communists from North Korea and then carry the war on into China. He even asked for permission to use nuclear weapons, which was rejected as this could easily have sparked a world war.

Other countries also leant not to underestimate China. Because of China’s intervention in the Korean War in 1950, it was proved that China was a major military power that the other countries, in particular, America, should not have ignored. The Korean War proved that the Chinese military was not afraid, and had planned to stand up to a world power like America.

The Korean War also tells us that smaller countries wren not always controlled by the superpowers. America, Russia, and China were drawn into the war started by North Korea. However, smaller countries were able to use the Cold War to achieve their own aims. Thus our group agrees that the Korean War was a “proxy war”, so that the two superpowers, America and Russia, were able to avoid a direct conflict with each other by using a third party, Korea. We can also tell that due to this, many countries intervened in the Korean War so as to achieve their aims. Thus, to answer our inquiry question, yes, the extent of interference in the Korean War was large. One such evidence of this would be China's interference in 1950.

-Sharmila.

V
March 1951 – 1953

In mid-1951, with the land battle in stalemate, both sides agreed to go to a conference begin armistice talks. They dragged on for two years. The main point they argued about was the future of the tens of thousands of communist prisoners held in camps on Koje Island off the coast of South Korea.

While the communist negotiators wanted all to be returned to their country of origin, thousands of prisoners were unwilling to be repatriated. There were several great mutinies in the Koje camps. In the end, those who wanted to be repatriated would be allowed to go home and while the others would go to an asylum.

In July 1953, thousands of former prisoners on each side were returned. A Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) was established on the border. Both sides withdrew from their fighting positions, and a UN commission was set up to supervise the armistice.

MacArthur was also sacked when he publicly criticised Truman’s order when Truman told MacArthur to stop.

In 1953, Eisenhower became the American president.

The Americans threatened to use the atomic bomb if China did not stop fighting. The Chinese agree to a truce, which was signed on 27 July 1953.

It is estimated that 10 million people died in the war - as many as died in the First World War.

-Sharmila.

IV
February – March 1951

The UN forces recoiled in disorder and defended a line well to the south of Seoul. The soldier's morale was low but the new field commander, General Ridgway, managed to advance slowly north in the spring of 1951. They used bombers. The Chinese admitted to losing 390,000 men dead - UN sources put the figure at up to a million Chinese and half a million North Koreans dead.

The Americans drove the Chinese back, but lost 54,000 American soldiers dead doing so.

MacArthur reached the 38th parallel in March 1951.

Then, Chinese launched their spring offensive. The British 29th Brigade narrowly escaped annihilation on the Imjin river as the 27th Commonwealth brigade on the central front beat off savage Chinese attacks. The UN line managed to survive, then moved north again. This time, there was no reckless advance into the north. The line stabilised in the general area of the 38th parallel and the remaining two years of fighting consisted of near-static operations as both sides fought from heavily fortified positions, using artillery, mines and wire to deny the enemy access to strategically important ground.

-Sharmila.

III
Nov 1950 - Feb 1951

Now the Chinese were alarmed.

After two minor fights on October 25, the first major Chinese–American battles occurred on 1 November 1950, deep in North Korea. Thousands of PVA (People's Volunteer Army) soldiers encircled and attacked scattered UN Command units.

On 25 November, 200,000 Chinese troops attacked MacArthur. They had modern weapons supplied by Russia, and a fanatical hatred of the Americans.In the west, at the Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River, the PVA attacked and over-ran several ROK Army divisions and the flank of the remaining UN forces.

Then, on 31 December, half a million more Chinese troops entered the war and attacked the Americans. They drove the Americans back (using 'human wave tactics'). They recaptured North Korea, and advanced into South Korea.

-Sharmila.

II

Sept - Nov 1950

On 15 September, the American General MacArthur led a UN amphibious landing 240km in the enemy rear at the port Inchon (which was near Seoul) behind the NKPA . Out of the 300,000 UN troops, 260,000 were Americans.

Their communications were cut off, and under heavy aerial bombardment, the North Koreans (NKPA) broke and retreated back north. The American General MacArthur ordered his troops to drive them back. On 7 October 1950, his pursuit led across the 38th parallel and deep into North Korea. Thus the Americans were able to recapture South Korea. They also took 125,000 NKPA as prisoners.

As the UN forces, which appeared victorious at that instant, drew near to the Manchurian (Chinese) border, there were ominous signals from Peking that communist China would intervene to defend its territory.

In mid-October, MacArthur met President Harry Truman on Wake Island in their first encounter to boast to him that a massive UN offensive was about to end the war, and that the Americans would be victorious and be "home by Christmas". No sooner had this been launched in November than the Chinese unleashed their armies.

-Sharmila.

I
June - Sept 1950

On 25 June 1950, the North Koreans launched a successful attack against South Korea. The North Korean People's Army (NKPA) easily defeated the Republic of Korea's army (the ROKs) and managed to capture most of South Korea.


The Americans were alarmed. The President of USA, Harry Truman, ordered troops to assist South Korea. On 27 June, the UN Security Council, minus the absent Soviet delegate, passed a resolution calling for the assistance of all UN members in halting the North Koreans and supporting South Korea.

As the North Koreans started to invade down south, overwhelming all opposition, the US called on the Security Council to invoke the United Nations Charter and brand the North Koreans as aggressors. This was done and member states were called on to send in military assistance.

The Americans sent troops to Korea to reinforce the South Korean Army at Pusan.

-Yuxiang

How the war started
On 25th June 1950, North Korea leader Kim Il Sung launched a surprise attack on South Korea. They were very successful. The North Korean People's Army (NKPA) easily defeated the unprepared Republic of Korea's army (the ROKs). They captured most of South Korea. As seen from the map, the brown lines represent the NKPA’s movements between June to Sept. They basically surrounded the ROKs, pushing them to Pusan.

The Americans were alarmed
On 27 June they persuaded the United Nations to pass a resolution supporting South Korea.
The Americans sent troops to Korea to reinforce the South Korean Army at Pusan and started to push the NKPA back to the 38th parallel.

-Yuxiang

Other countries's involvement in the korean war

United Nations Security Council asked all its members to assist in repelling the North Korean attack.
Example: Australia. Australia was part of United Nations. So they got involved too, under the UN forces. On June 29, 1950, Prime Minister Robert Menzies placed two of the Royal Navy’s ships – the destroyer Bataan and the frigate Shoalhaven. Later the Australian government increased its military support to 3 infantry battalions, a fighter squadron, an aircraft carrier, 4 destroyers, and 4 frigates.

The UN force had many countries supporting it in the war against North Korea:
Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Ethiopia,France, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands,New Zealand,Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, and of course the United States. The total number of troops numbered around 1.1 million.
The UN got involved mainly due to the big influence of the US.

Valerie

Why did the USSR get involved in the korean war?

The USSR was at first reluctant to help Kim Il Sung in unifying Korea. However, Kim Il-Sung constantly pursued this matter with Joseph Stalin that the time had come for a reunification of the Korea. Kim needed Soviet support to successfully execute an offensive far across a rugged, mountainous peninsula. Stalin initially refused support, as he feared the lack of preparedness of the North Korean armed forces and also possible U.S. involvement. However, by 1950, the North Korean military was equipped with modern Soviet weaponry, and it enjoyed substantial advantages over the Southern forces in virtually every category of equipment, as on January 30, 1950, Stalin, via telegram, informed Kim Il Sung that he was willing to help Kim in his plan to unify Korea.

After another visit by Kim to Moscow in March and April 1950, Stalin approved an attack.　 Coincidentally, on March 9, 1950, North Korea had agreed to send to the Soviet Union 9 tons of gold, 40 tons of silver, and 15,000 tons of monazite concentrate as payment for additional Soviet arms, ammunition and military technical equipment.

In a way, USSR support had helped to "cause" the Korean war. Without USSR support, Kim Il Sung would not have enough resources to attack South Korea.

Reasons:

Stalin wanted to conquer the whole of Korea and make it communist. Korea had good industrial, agricultural, and transportation friendly complexes, and was connected to the USSR via the Trans Siberian Railway. Stalin wanted communism to spread throughout the world, and here, he could slightly achieve that vision through unifying Korea by supplying weapons, without having to actually get directly involved in the war.


Valerie

Why did the US get involved in the Korean War?

When the North Korean army attacked South Korea and successfully captured most of Korea, the Americans became alarmed. On June 27, they convinced the United Nations (UN) to pass a resolution to support South Korea. Though the UN called for a ceasefire, it was ignored. America then sent troops to Korea to reinforce the South Korean army at Pusan.

Reasons

-Domino theory: Around the time of the war, China had become communist. The Americans being capitalist were afraid that other countries in East Asia would also follow suit and become communist. If the North Koreans, who were communist, were to successfully invade South Korea, Korea would then become communist. Harry Truman, then US president, was afraid that other countries like Japan would fall to the communist.
(image below: photo of harry Truman with Syngman Rhee :http://ysfine.com/kobak/rheetr.html)

-Undermine communism. Truman believed that the capitalist way of life would be overwhelmed by communist ideologies. Truman had his Truman doctrine, which also applied to Asia, so south korea should also be given aid. After stating that South Korea should be given aid, the American National Security Council issued a report suggesting “rolling back communism”.

-A way to oppose the USSR without direct conflict. The Korean war occurred when the USA and USSR were in a “cold war” with each other. Both countries were in a way competing to gain more power and influence, as the two super powers in the world at that time. By supporting the South Koreans, who were fighting against the North Koreans (who were aided by USSR), they were indirectly fighting against USSR.


Valerie

Background to Korean War

After World War 2, the Korean peninsula was divided at the 38th parallel, USSR, controlled the northern half, while America controlled the southern half.

A group of Korean nationalist formed the Korean People's Republic (KPR) which became popular and communist. Kim Il-Sung, a Korean guerrilla leader from the 1930s, emerged as the leader of the pro-Soviet KPR in North Korea. Kim Il-Sung later won the communist elections in North Korea and was trained by the USSR. In South Korea, Syngman Rhee, American Military Government (AMG) spokesman who was supported by the USA, won the UN-sponsored elections on 15 August, 1948, forming the Republic of Korea (ROK). North Korea did not participate in this election and formed its own government, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

ROK and the DPRK developed their military forces, except that Russia supplied armor and aircraft to Pyongyang, while USA only left a small army behind. Kim Il-Sung wanted to unify Korea, and got support and approval from the USSR to invade South Korea. So, when Syngman Rhee boasted that he would invade North Korea, North Korea started to invade South Korea on June 25, 1950.(Kim Il Sung top, Syngman rhee on the bottom)

-Yuxiang