The Causes of the Korean War

What caused the Korean War?

The Korean War originated from internal conflicts between the communist north and non-communist south. There were also external factors relating to the Cold War and the development of communism in China.

What key reasons caused the Korean War?

There were 6 key causes of the Korean War:

• ❖ The Cold War.
• ❖ The US policy of containment.
• ❖ The division of Korea.
• ❖ Different governments in Korea.
• ❖ The development of communism in China.
• ❖ Interference from other countries.

How did the Cold War cause the Korean War?

The Korean War was born out of the ideological conflict of the Cold War that developed over a number of years. It caused the Korean War in the a number of ways including:

• ❖ The Korean War was a proxy of the Cold War. The world's two leading superpowers - the USA and the USSR - were in an ideological conflict, competing for dominance. However, they could only fight through proxy wars due to the threat of nuclear warfare.
• ❖ When communist North Korea invaded South Korea, the USA was able to fight communist Russia without direct confrontation. The Korean War was an extension of the Cold War.
• ❖ The Cold War rivalry between the USSR and the USA was a critical cause of the Korean War, as North Korea would not invade South Korea without Stalin's permission. He gave it as it strengthened his position in the context of the Cold War.

How did the policy of containment cause the Korean War?

The policy of containment was a short-term cause of the Korean War and contributed in 4 key ways:

• ❖ In 1947 the President of the USA, Harry S Truman, committed to helping any country under threat from a communist takeover. This was known as the Truman Doctrine and meant that, when North Korea invaded South Korea, America helped the south.
• ❖ Until 1950, most of the USA's efforts in fighting the spread of communism were focused on Europe. However, in 1949, the communists came to power in China despite America's efforts to support the anti-communist government.
• ❖ Truman and the US government believed communism would spread throughout Asia. The USA was worried the fall of China would lead to neighbouring countries following suit - South Korea and then Japan.
• ❖ Stalin's support of the invasion alone did not bring about the war. The USA was determined to prevent any more nations in Asia falling to communism.

How did the division of Korea cause the Korean War?

There were 2 key reasons the division caused the Korean War:

• ❖ The division of Korea along the 38th parallel was supposed to be temporary. North and South Korea both wanted to unite, but had different ideas about the style of government. The North wanted a united communist nation, while the South wanted a united capitalist nation.
• ❖ The division of Korea, and the different styles of government, meant the USA and the USSR were both committed to supporting opposing sides. It was, therefore, an extension of the Cold War.

How did the different governments in North and South Korea cause the Korean War?

North and South Korea were each ruled by a separate government with with different ideas. However, both were committed to uniting Korea. This triggered the Korean War for a number of reasons:

• ❖ North Korea was controlled by the communist Kim II-Sung, who had strong links to the USSR.
• ❖ Kim II-Sung was committed to uniting Korea as a communist nation.
• ❖ Kim II-Sung persuaded Stalin, leader of the USSR, and Mao Zedong, ruler of China, to back an invasion of South Korea. Stalin saw this as an opportunity to continue the Cold War through proxy.
• ❖ South Korea was controlled by anti-communist Syngman Rhee, who had boasted about planning an attack to take over the north and unite Korea as a capitalist nation. This was the excuse Kim II-Sung needed to invade.

How did the interference from other countries cause the Korean War?

The support (and interference) of other countries helped trigger the Korean War, because neither North nor South could have fought without external support. This caused the war in a number of ways:

• ❖ The USA intervened to support South Korea. President Truman sent warships and offered advisers and supplies. Without this, the South would not have been able to fight the war.
• ❖ Kim II-Sung had asked for Stalin's support to invade the south in 1949, but Stalin had refused. Kim II-Sung could not launch an invasion without aid from the USSR or China. Even though Stalin gave permission in 1950, he made it clear his troops would not fight in the conflict directly, and any reinforcements must come from China.

How did China cause the Korean War?

There were 3 main reasons China contributed to the outbreak of the Korean War.

• ❖ In 1949 the communists won the civil war in China, against Chiang Kai-shek's non-communist government. China became a communist country.
• ❖ Because of its policy of containment, the US had supported Chiang Kai-shek's efforts, trying to prevent China from turning Communist. This strategy failed when Chiang Kai-shek lost the civil war.
• ❖ When China became communist, America was scared communism would spread through Asia, as it believed in the domino theory. The USA was committed to ensuring communism did not take hold in South Korea.