Causes of the Korean War - Essay Example

The political map of the world was dramatically changed after the end of World War II. With the fall of Nazism, as the allied forces led by the US and the communist forces led by the Soviet Union captured the previously occupied Nazi territories, an entirely new political balance of power existed. The Soviet army and government refused to retreat from the conquered territories of Europe and took control of it, not planning to relinquish it. And this was the situation, as the two superpowers were locked in a tight battle over control and influence around the world. This situation remained so until the Korean War, which changed everything and expanded the conflict to one with a worldwide scope. It was the first armed confrontation of the Cold War, which without a doubt set the standard for later confrontations. The idea of a proxy war was generated due to the character of the war- the fact that it had been fought in another country. This meant that most of the destruction and devastation wouldnt be in either state of origin of one of the two superpowers, but rather in a different country. What this basically means is that another country is functioning as a battleground in the relentless war between the two superpowers. The war had started as the North Koreans, along with their Chinese allies, invaded South Korea. The North claimed that they were launching a preemptive strike against the South, but there is no indication that that was the case. The attack was launched in the dawn of June 25th, 1950. Around 231,000 North Korean soldiers crossed the border. Thousands of citizens had to flee their homes and turn south, carrying only what they can with them. As a result of the well-organized attack, North Korea was successful at the invasion and surprised the South, attacking a number of key places such as Kaesong, Chuncheon, Uijeongbu and Ongjin. The war raged on as the North Korean Air Force bombed major cities in the South, and heavy damages were inflicted upon them. Many South Koreans defected and others were in full retreat. This all changed when the US and other countries joined the war in favor of South Korea, with the UNs approval. The US declared that Korea is a good place to stop the communist expansion. The US then joined the war, but at first the North Koreans continued to advance south until the US and South Korea were driven to a small area in the southeastern peninsula, around the city of Pusan. The US kept on sending forces there and would periodically bomb supply places and infrastructures of the enemy, as the war escalated. Eventually, the tides have turned and the US and South Koreans started winning battles, pushing the North Koreans to the North and finally invaded the North. However, this all changed when the Chinese forces entered the war. They launched attack after attack and over time got the upper hand, driving the US and the South Koreans back south. Later on, a series of attacks slowly drove the communist forces back north. A stalemate was achieved in July 1951 and maintained until July 1953, with little territory changes. Finally, a cease-fire was obtained and the area around the border became demilitarized. A while later the North Koreans and Americans signed and Armistice Agreement and from that point on there was relative peace in the area ("Korean War", 2009). There were several causes for the Korean War. The first was the animosity between both parts of Korea, as each one vied to take control over the other and unify Korea under its rule. Kim II from the North and Syngman Rhee from the South were each hell-bent on overthrowing the other from reign and rule over the entire country. The second was the clash between the two opposing superpowers of the US and the Soviet Union. Whereas the US was determined to stop the spread of communism and its influence on regional countries especially in the Asian continent where it had become prevalent, the Soviet Union was keen on obtaining as much control of other countries and spreading the influence of communism in its major battle against the US. The more communist countries there are, the more power, control, resources, supplies and armed forces the Soviet Union has. Also, there was an opposition between two ideologies- the communist and the capitalist views. Each superpower had its financial interests at heart, and each wanted their ideology embraced by other countries, again in order to solidify their hold on the country and to stop the other from gaining more control. The Soviet Union was trying to expand the communist ideology based on the Trotkist theory of "permanent revolution"- if they take control of a country, it will last and be very powerful. Stalin saw this as a way to disturb the US. From the USs view, they were trying to prevent a "domino effect" from occurring- once one country falls into communist hands, neighboring countries are bound to do the same ("Causes of the", 2007; "Analyze the Causes", 2008). Moreover, there was an indirect cause of the war, based on recent developments worldwide. The Soviet Union was successful in detonating an atomic bomb in 1949, and this gave Stalin new confidence and motivation to anger the US. At the same time, NATO was formed, and Stalin wanted to test it. Finally, the war was also about the issue of strategic depth. On the one hand, the US wanted control of Korea because they deployment of American troops in Korea would frighten the Chinese and their government and also because it would enable it to form a powerful base 50 meters beyond the borders of China. On the other hand, China was as eager to acquire strategic depth, as North Korea would be a buffer against a possible US invasion ("Causes and Effects", 2009). The Korean War also had many great effects. First and foremost, there were heavy casualties on both sides, as the estimated number of fatalities, wounded people, POWs of all countries is well over one million people. In terms of the balance of power between the US and the Soviet Union, the war emphasized the USs unrelenting will to prevent the proliferation of communism, and made clear that it will stop at nothing to ensure this. Friction between the two superpowers only rose after the war, threatening to resurface and emerge once again. Furthermore, the war caused a deep feeling of hatred and hostility between the US and China, one that would last for decades to come. In fact, even today the two countries are rivals (Jervis, 1980). The fear of communism felt by the US did not subside after this war but rather increased. Worried about the domino effect, the US has had several other wars and operations against communism, including the notorious Vietnam War, one of the most traumatic experiences of the US in the 20th century. Be that as it may, South Korea remained an important military base for the US and thousands of troops were still stationed there ("Causes and Effects", 2009). The war between the two Koreas may have ended, but the two sides failed to resolves their differences and remained antagonistic to one another, resulting in their constant readiness and high level of alertness in case battles commence once more (Jervis, 1980). In summation, the Korean War was one of the most influential conflicts in the 20th century after World War II. It was a decisive battle of powers between the aggressive Soviet Union which was determined to spread its chokehold and absolute control on other countries via its communist approach, and the US which wanted to put a halt to the Soviet Unions expansion efforts and to reduce the totalitarian threat it posed to Asia and to the entire world. China was also intent on using Korea as a buffer against any possible US invasions of it, and caused an escalation of the war. What was originally a fight between the North and the South of Korea, each wanting to unify the country under its rule, became one of the most crucial scenes of combat between the two major superpowers of the world, the two ideologies and the two ways of life. In my opinion, it was absolutely imperative for the US to curb the dangerous aspirations of the Soviet Union, without which we may be living in a communist world right now. References "Analyze the causes of the Korean War" (2008). ECeat Website. Published November 9, 2008. Retrieved May 19, 2009 from http://www.echeat.com/essay.php?t=33849 "Cause and Effects of Korean War" (2009). Buzzle Website. RetrievedMay 19, 2009 from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/cause-and-effects-of-korean-war.html "Causes of the Korean War" (2007). Learn Korean Language Website. Retrieved May 19 from http://www.learnkoreanlanguage.com/causes-of-the-korean-war.html Jervis, R. (1980). "The Impact of the Korean War on the Cold War". Journal of Conflict Resolution, Vol. 24 (Issue 4), p. 563-592 "Korean War" (2009). Wikipedia Website. Modified May 19, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War#Legacy Read More