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Korean War Background
Korean War Background
Korean War Background
1. The surrender of Japan was inevitable after the United States dropped the
first atom bomb on Hiroshima in August of 1945. Stalin was waiting for just such
an opportunity where the Soviets could enter the war against Japan while
incurring minimal loss, and so it was no surprise when he declared war against
Japan after the U.S. dropped the second atom bomb. Upon Japanese surrender
on August 15, 1945, Soviet military forces swept through Manchuria and North
Korea taking over Japanese control over these provinces. The United States
reacted in alarm when she realized the potential danger of having the strategic
Korean peninsula controlled by communist forces. President Truman proposed a
joint occupation of Korea by the two powers where the Soviets would occupy the
territory north of the 38 parallel, while the U.S. would control the area south of
the line.
2. Initially, it was the intention of both sides to establish a stable and unified
Korea in order to withdraw their military forces from the area. However, neither
Soviet Union nor USA wanted the peninsula to fall into the other's hand. In short,
the Soviets and the U.S. desired to withdraw their military and resources out of
Korea, but they also wanted to leave behind a nation that was favorable to their
ideology; the Soviets desired a Communist Korea whereas the U.S. wanted a
democratic nation to be established. And so the roots of division were laid from
the very onset of Korea's liberation.
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dogmatic advocacy for Korea's full independence often caused friction between
him and U.S. officials. But due to Rhee's strong stance against communism, and
because of his commitment to maintaining civil order during these turbulent
times, General Hodge had no other choice but to give his support to Rhee.
Therefore, with U.S. support and the use of strong arm tactics, Syngman Rhee
eventually positioned himself has the dominant political leader in South Korea by
1947.
7. The elections of 1948 and the division of Korea that ensued set the stage
for a civil war. And by 1950, both North and South Korea sensed that war was
inevitable. Not only were their armies getting prepared for war, but both
Syngman Rhee and Kim Il Sung declared on several occasions that military force
would be necessary to unify Korea. However, in terms of being prepared for war,
North Korea had a clear advantage over the south. Not only did North Korea
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possess a larger army, it also had many experienced veterans who had fought in
China's Civil War. In addition North Korea by this time were manufacturing some
of their own weapons as well possessing many Soviet made weapons. South
Korea on the other hand had soldiers who had not even attended basic training.
Finally, North Korea had the support of the Chinese Military Therefore, in light of
North Korea's military advantage on the eve of the war, it is reasonable to
assume that it was North Korea that fired the first shot on June 25, 1950 that
started the Korean War.
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