Second Topic; The origins of the Korean War

1. THE ORIGINS OF THE KOREAN
WAR
Chapter 2
Prepared by:
HAFIDZ HAKIMI BIN HARON
LLB (Hons.) IIUM
Advocate and Solicitor ,High Court of Malaya

2. INTRODUCTION
 Korean War is often
referred as the
“Forgotten War”
 Technically is not even
a war?? <-why
 It was a pretending
war, but unfortunately
a bloody one
 Everyone feared it
might sparked a full
scale world war –
world war III

3. THE ROOTS OF THE KOREAN WAR
 No one ever heard of
Korea before 1950
 Geographically it is a
rough place to lived ;
mountainous,
unstable climate.
 Thus it is not a
suitable place for war.
 Locals were
„primitive‟; using their
own „excrement‟ to
fertilized their fields.

4. THE ROOTS OF THE KOREAN WAR
KOREAN PENINSULA IN 1950

5. THE ROOTS OF THE KOREAN WAR
 Korean Peninsula is surrounded by three great
powers ;
 Russia (USSR): Northern neighbor. – had a little
interest towards Korea until late
19th Century
 China : Regarded as Korean “elder brother”
 Influences Korean culture, religion, and always territorially
subjected to the ancient Chinese warlords
 Japan : Also begun their interest towards Korea in
19th Century.
• In 1895, Japan had defeated Imperial China in Sino –
Japan war to gain control of Korea. Later deposed the
native Yi dynasty in 1905 when Japan also defeated
Russia.

6. THE ROOTS OF THE KOREAN WAR
 How did the Japanese
„administered‟ their
Korean subject in 40
years?
 “Japanization” -
replacing the
traditional Korean
culture with a
Japanese one.
 Any resistance will met
a dire consequences ;
Korean patriots were
hunted and murdered,
many were exiled
 To put it simple, it was
a brutal and oppressive
rule.

7. THE ROOTS OF THE KOREAN WAR : TWO
IMPORTANT FIGURES
Dr Syngman Rhee
•Was a Christian and spoke English.
•Sent to the USA in 1905 to assist Korean independence but failed. – he
stayed in the US, and developing contacts.
•Consistent in pressing claims of his people.
•Wanted Korea to be independent , a democratic country
Kim Song Ju / Kim Il Sung
•Born in 1912
•His parents tried to escape Japanese persecution and fled to Chinese
Manchuria.
•Spoke Chinese
•Joined Chinese Communist Party and changed his name to Kim Il
Sung
•1932-1940; fought the Japanese by using guerilla tactics, defeated and
later fled to USSR.
•Became a member of the USSR army, was a Battalion Commander.
•Indoctrinated and loyal to Stalin as a result of that.
•Wanted Korea to be independent , but a communist country

8. THE DIVISION OF KOREA
 Late WWII, Russia had agreed to
join the war against Japan.
 The Soviet army then was poured
into Manchuria and Korean
Peninsula.
 But the decision by the US army to
use an atomic bomb had ended the
war – The Soviet army was not
utilized.
 Then, the victorious allies had seek
to divide a “halting line” between two
countries just like they did in
Germany.
 Initially there was no US army at all
in Korea at that particular time!
 General Lincoln of the US army had
suggested to the Soviet Army that
the 38th parallel to be a halt line –
Soviet Army accepted it.
 2 US army divisions were rushed to
Korea and halted at 38th Parallel.
 Thus, in 1945, two divided Koreas
were born.

9. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH
KOREAN STATE.
 The USSR was better prepared
in establishing North Korean
state.
 Thousands of North Korean
served either Chinese or the
Soviets in WWII. – which made
them fond of communism.
 Kim Il Sung was welcomed in a
public celebration – without a
doubt organized by the Soviet
occupiers.
 1946 – Interim People‟s
Committee was set up (Kim Il
Sung was the chairman)
 IPC sought cooperation with
various leftist movement in the
first place.
 They also sought to introduce
populist policy, including
distribution of land to peasants.

10. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH
KOREAN STATE.
 Many who served Japanese
administration during
imperial rule had fled away
to South Korea. – fearing
abuse and prosecution.
 So, the vacancy of the
available administrative job
were filled by the Communist.
 “Police State was born” –
controlling all aspects of the
North Korean life.
 A mini Soviet-like
Totalitarian state was born.
 In September 1948, North
Korea had became totally
independent as the Soviet
forces had fully withdrew
from their territories.
 Nonetheless, North Korean
government was only a
puppet state to the Soviet
Union. – Independent were
just on paper.

11. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH
KOREAN STATE.
 North Korean People‟s
Army (NKPA) was
established in February
1948.
 Put under the supervision
of soviet trained
commanders – Like Kim
himself.
 Have plentiful of advisers
and Soviet made
equipment.
 NKPA enjoys great social
status.
 Why local people were not
against this totalitarian
state?
 What is Collectivization?

12. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOUTH
KOREAN STATE.
 Unlike the USSR, the US forces
appears to be unprepared to
established a government in South
Korea.
 Barely a few Americans can speak
Korean, so they had to rely on
Japanese officials – which evidently
caused much resentment by the
native Koreans (as they had suffered
from the Japanese during occupation)
 Thus, local ex-collaborators of
Japanese colonial government rose
through the ranks, and achieve
prominence in the society – even
though they were despised by many.
 At this moment, Dr Syngman Rhee
emerged as a political leader, with a
reputation of resistance to the
Japanese colonial rule.
 He had strong links with Chiang Kai
Shek regime in China, but was not
well like by the US.

13. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOUTH
KOREAN STATE.
 The US basically wants to pull out
from Korea.
 But, the South Korea then was far
from stable. Factionalism and
banditry everywhere!
 In 1948, an UN Supervised
election was held, and Dr Syngman
Rhee won it.
 The assembly elected him as the
new President, and the Republic of
Korea was born in 15 August 1948.
 The new nation however, was
corrupt and an authoritarian state.
 Both of North and South Korea
however, claimed legitimacy of
representing the whole Korea. The
heat was on!

14. WHY DID THE FORCES OF NORTH KOREA
ATTACK SOUTH KOREA IN JUNE 1950?
 Border raids between the two was begun
as early as 1949.
 Kim Il Sung initially asked permission
to launched a full scale war from Stalin,
but rejected.
 Small scale attacks were launched small
scale attacks to the North Korean
territory, but the US refused to supply
arms.
 Half-heartedly, the USA was also
established an advisory body to
supervised South Korean military
development; the KMAG – Korean
Military Advisory Group. Or known by
the US Army as “Kiss my a** Goodbye”
– Yeah, that‟s the spirit…
 Thus from 1949 to 1950 there was
confrontation between the two armies,
but still not resulting into a full bloodied
conflict, which was soon to change..

15. WHY DID THE FORCES OF NORTH KOREA
ATTACK SOUTH KOREA IN JUNE 1950?
 Soviet was planning the North Korean
invasion all along.
 Even in 1949, they supplied various of
equipments to the North Koreans, some
87 tanks, and others, which are not for
the purpose of defense, but attack.
 The North Korean army was also
strengthened by the returned of 50,000
hardened veterans who had served the
Chinese army during China‟s civil war.
 In February1950, Stalin had
accelerated his military aid by sending
further military equipments, including
river crossing gear – which illustrates
clear indication of invasion.
 Thus, by June 1950, there were 242
Tanks and over 200 aircraft assemble
in the Southern North Korean border in
preparation of long anticipated
invasion.

16. WHY DID THE FORCES OF NORTH KOREA
ATTACK SOUTH KOREA IN JUNE 1950?
 There was an evidence that Stalin himself
pressed the North Koreans to attack.
 Why he did so? First and foremost he was
confident with the USSR military position in
Asia.
 Secondly he had also ended America monopoly
on atomic bombs in 1949.
 Thirdly, just after the success of Mao Ze Dong
overthrowing Chiang Kai Shek‟s China, the
Soviets immediately sign a military pact with
the new Chinese regime. – This will ensures
Chinese participation in the Korean war if
without direct intervention by the Soviets.
 Fourthly, it is because the American had
withdrew their army from the Korean
peninsula in 1949. While the remaining forces
in Japan was poorly equipped.
 Next, he was believed that, by virtue of US
national security report; NSC48, South Korea
was not a vital US interest – which left them
undefended.
 Thus, Stalin had finally gave a nod to launched
a full scale attack provided the North Koreans
seeks Mao‟s blessing as well.
 At last, at 4 am on Sunday June 25th 1950, the
North launched a massive attack across the
38th parallel, heading towards Seoul.

17. WHY DID THE USA DECIDE TO INTERVENE?
 Basically the US were reluctant
for any war.
 They were even deliberately
withheld heavy equipments from
the South Korea to prevent them
invading the North.
 Thus, South Korean then were
poorly equipped – no tanks, and
27 aircraft.
 Therefore, the North only took 2
days to captured the South
Korean capital, Seoul.
 General Douglas MacArthur
plead for US assistance as the
Republic Korea was likely to
collapse if without the active US
intervention.

18. WHY DID THE USA DECIDE TO INTERVENE?
 Two main factors that made the USA
had decided to resist the North Korean
aggression :
1. The attack on South Korea was a clear
breach of the US-Soviet Agreement of
August 1945.
2. The UN had recognized the
sovereignty and legitimacy of South
Korea, - which the UN is under
obligation to defend it!
 The USA also learned their lessons
during World War 2; whereby if Hitler
and Mussolini were stopped at the
initial stage of their conquest, World
War 2 might be averted! – so Stalin
must be stopped as he was the one who
pulling the strings!

19. WHY DID THE USA DECIDE TO INTERVENE?
 On the day of North Korean
invasion, the UN security council
had passed a resolution condemn
the attack and called for the North
Korean forces withdrawal.
 The USSR cannot VETOED such
resolution because they had
already withdrawn their
ambassador in the council.
 Later, on 25th June 1950; Truman
held a meeting in which it was
stressed that the aggression of the
North Korean army might be
prejudicial to the American
interest in Japan. Then, it was
decided that the US will offer air
and Naval support and press UN
for the military support.
 The decision gain unanimous
political and public approval.

20. WHY DID THE USA DECIDE TO INTERVENE?
 On 27 June the UN Security
Council authorized the use of
force to assist South Korea.
 Now the US forces will act under
the UN flag.
 However, Truman was never
declare a war to North Korea
officially, but described it as a
“Police action under the United
Nations”.
 Thus, the US was in war in
practice but not in theory.
 Anybody care to give their
opinion why?

21. 감사합니다
Thank You!