The Korean War and the global Cold War, 1950-1953
H1 History - syllabus 8838, 2027
How China's revolution brought the Cold War to Asia, why the Korean War broke out, the roles of Kim, Stalin, Mao and Truman, and how the war transformed the Cold War.
- China turns communist and the Cold War reaches Asia
The communist victory in China in 1949 and the Sino-Soviet alliance made Asia a second front of the Cold War.
- A divided Korea and two rival governments
Korea was divided at the 38th parallel in 1945, and by 1948 two rival states each claimed the whole peninsula.
- The outbreak: Kim, Stalin, Mao and Truman
Kim Il-sung started the war with Stalin's approval and Mao's consent; the USA responded through the UN.
- From mobile war to stalemate, 1950-1953
Inchon reversed the war, the UN advance north brought China in, and stalemate led to an armistice in 1953.
- Superpowers, allies and their limits
Korea showed both superpowers seeking allies in Asia, and how hard those allies were to control.
- The impact of the Korean War on the Cold War
Korea militarised and globalised containment, fixed Sino-American hostility and hardened the Cold War in Asia and Europe.
- Put it together: Who made the Korean War happen?
Each actor shaped the war. Choose one and weigh its role against the others.
What you will be able to do
I can judge how the Cold War played out in Korea and Cuba, as the superpowers competed and looked for allies.
Syllabus 8838, Theme I, Learning Outcomes. evaluate the manifestation of the Cold War conflict across different contexts over time
Taught in China turns communist and the Cold War reaches Asia, A divided Korea and two rival governments, The outbreak: Kim, Stalin, Mao and Truman, From mobile war to stalemate, 1950-1953, Superpowers, allies and their limits, The impact of the Korean War on the Cold War
Sources and context
Background reading for this chapter.
- Truman explains American action
Paraphrase of President Truman's statement on the situation in Korea, 27 June 1950.
- A secret plan for national security
Paraphrase of NSC-68, a top secret report to the US National Security Council, 14 April 1950.
- China's foreign minister responds to a ceasefire proposal
Paraphrase of a statement by Chinese Foreign Minister Zhou Enlai, 22 December 1950, as cabled to the UN General Assembly President and reported by the US representative at the UN.
- The Korean Armistice Agreement
Paraphrase of the Korean Armistice Agreement, signed at Panmunjom, 27 July 1953.
- Stalin replies to Kim Il-sung, January 1950
Paraphrase of a telegram from Joseph Stalin to Terenti Shtykov, the Soviet ambassador in Pyongyang, 30 January 1950, from the Russian Presidential Archive, in the English translation published by the National Security Archive and the Cold War International History Project. Paraphrased because the translation's licence is unclear.
- the UN Security Council acts, 27 June 1950
Extract from United Nations Security Council Resolution 83 (1950), adopted at the Council's 474th meeting on 27 June 1950 by 7 votes to 1 (Yugoslavia). The Soviet representative was boycotting the Council. A UN record.
- Truman's advisers meet at Blair House, 25 June 1950
Extract from a memorandum of conversation by Ambassador at Large Philip Jessup, recording the dinner meeting of President Truman and his senior advisers at Blair House, Washington, on the evening of 25 June 1950. Top Secret. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, volume VII, document 86. A US government document in the public domain.
- China's warning, October 1950
Extract from a circular telegram from Acting Secretary of State James Webb to certain US diplomatic and consular posts, Washington, 5 October 1950, two days before American forces crossed the 38th parallel. Secret. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, volume VII, document 614. A US government document in the public domain. (Abbreviations as in the original telegram.)
- MacArthur meets Truman on Wake Island, 15 October 1950
Extract from "Substance of Statements Made at Wake Island Conference on 15 October 1950", compiled by General Omar Bradley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, from notes kept by the officials who came from Washington. Top Secret. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, volume VII, document 680. A US government document in the public domain.