Foreign Policy
Subsequent to the end of World War 2, Korea was divided along the 38th parallel. This created tension between North and South Korea. The tension only worsened when North Korea gained support from the USSR and South Korea was backed by the democratic US. On June 25, 1950 the Korean war was initiated when the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea crossed the 38th Parallel to invade the democratic South Korea. The North Koreans hoped to capture the capital of South Korea, Seoul. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was led by the communist leader, Kim il-Sung. Kim il-Sung was backed by the other communist powers: the USSR, and the People’s Republic of China.
South Korea was heavily dependent on the United States for economic advancement and the United States was a major ally of theirs. The democratic powers in the world, the United States and the UN nations, wanted to put an end to the spread of communism. The United States use of military force in conjunction with the United Nations and the reasons behind this force are indicative of the United States' foreign policy of the time. The US engaged in collective security through working with other countries to influence different nations. One goal of the United States and United Nations was to prevent the takeover of South Korea by the North Koreans. The other main goal of the UN was to halt the spread of communism through Asia. The United States had a theory called the Domino Theory. The Domino Theory was the fear that if one country falls to communism then all neighboring countries will as well.
The President of the United States during the start of the Korean war was President Truman. President Truman entered the war to support South Korea by July of 1950 which was soon after the invasion of South Korea. The Korean War ended on July 27, 1953 during President Eisenhower's term. An armistice was agreed upon by the opposing sides of the conflict which would end the bloodshed. The armistice gave additional territory to South Korea and created a new border between North and South Korea which kept its original name, the 38th parallel. The war cost millions of Korean and Chinese lives as well as 50,000 American lives. Though the efforts of the United States did halt the spread of communism and the takeover of South Korea, the war was not a victory. There has been no official end to the conflict, only a ceasefire.
South Korea was heavily dependent on the United States for economic advancement and the United States was a major ally of theirs. The democratic powers in the world, the United States and the UN nations, wanted to put an end to the spread of communism. The United States use of military force in conjunction with the United Nations and the reasons behind this force are indicative of the United States' foreign policy of the time. The US engaged in collective security through working with other countries to influence different nations. One goal of the United States and United Nations was to prevent the takeover of South Korea by the North Koreans. The other main goal of the UN was to halt the spread of communism through Asia. The United States had a theory called the Domino Theory. The Domino Theory was the fear that if one country falls to communism then all neighboring countries will as well.
The President of the United States during the start of the Korean war was President Truman. President Truman entered the war to support South Korea by July of 1950 which was soon after the invasion of South Korea. The Korean War ended on July 27, 1953 during President Eisenhower's term. An armistice was agreed upon by the opposing sides of the conflict which would end the bloodshed. The armistice gave additional territory to South Korea and created a new border between North and South Korea which kept its original name, the 38th parallel. The war cost millions of Korean and Chinese lives as well as 50,000 American lives. Though the efforts of the United States did halt the spread of communism and the takeover of South Korea, the war was not a victory. There has been no official end to the conflict, only a ceasefire.