Re: Korean War Causes & US Involvement

[Ed Evanhoe <ede@oio.net>]

>Mike,

> >.      You're a plank-owner on this List.  And I have the same question 
> Young
>Master Suh has. So maybe you can tell us why we got involved in the Korean
>War?! <<

My answer to Suh.
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The simplistic answer to why the U.S. became involved was
"to stop the spread of communism." Before, during and following WWII, the 
International Communist Party, under the control and direction of Joseph 
Stalin and the Soviet Union's Communist Party, was determined to become the
dominating political force worldwide. To this end, the Soviet Union imposed 
communist governments in all countries its forces "liberated" during World 
War Two. While these mainly were countries in eastern Europe, the Soviet 
Union entered the war against Japan shortly before the Japanese surrendered 
in August 1945. Thus, their army occupied much of Manchuria and the part of 
the Korean Peninsula north of the 38th Parallel. U.S. military forces 
occupied that part of the Korean Peninsula south of the 38th Parallel. Per 
the Yalta Agreement this occupation was supposed to be temporary by both 
the United States and the Soviet Union, lasting only until all Japanese had 
been repatriated to Japan and a central government, elected by Koreans in 
both northern and southern areas, could be formed. As soon as both the 
Soviet Union and the United States began their occupation, each side 
installed political leaders who supported their own political beliefs - 
Moscow-trained Communist Kim Il Sung in what now became "North Korea" and 
Lee Sik Man (Sygman Rhee) in what now became "South Korea."

Both Rhee and Kim wanted to control all of Korea and each began trying to 
spread their influence to the other side as soon as installed in 1946. 
Meanwhile relations between the United States and Soviet Union deteriorated 
as communists around the world tried to take control of governments, 
peacefully if possible but by subversion and armed insurrection if 
necessary, in countries the US and other western allies considered within 
their sphere of influence. Despite deterioration of relations, an attempt 
was made in 1948, to hold general elections throughout the Korean 
Peninsula. This failed because North Korea would not allow an observers to 
voting on their side while demanding full access to results and polling 
places in South Korea.

The Cold War had settled in worldwide by that time so both North and South 
Korea declared victory and their governments to be one and only "Central 
Government" for all of Korea. At this point, both governments established 
armies with the help of their sponsors -- the Soviet Union and Chinese 
Communists for North Korea and the United States for South Korea. In North 
Korea the Chinese Communist released 30,000+ combat experienced Korean 
officers and men, who had been fighting with the Chinese Communist Route 
Armies, to form the nucleus of the North Korean Army and began drafting 
North Korean men to fill the expanding army. The Soviet Union provided 
aircraft, ships, tanks, artillery, trucks, other weapons and ammunition 
plus Soviet military trainers. In South Korea, the United States did the 
same, but to much lessor degree because the United States was afraid if 
they equipped the South Korean Army with tanks, artillery and aircraft, 
South Korea would invade North Korea.

Both Soviet and United States military personnel left Korea during 1948 and 
1949 with the last US troops leaving by 1 July 1949 and the Soviet troops 
gone by early 1949. Each side left behind "military advisory groups" to 
train the new armies in the weapons and tactics. It was about this time the 
U.S. Secretary of State, in response to a reporters question, said "South 
Korea is not within our (the U.S.'s) sphere of protection" or words to that 
effect. Shortly thereafter the North Korean Central Committee (North 
Korea's ruling body) decided that since they couldn't take over the south 
by subversion, they would use force and they decided this invasion had to 
take place before South Korea could develop an effective army. This was 
done in the belief the United States would not come to South Korea's aid 
once the fighting began.

Thus, on 25 June 1950, North Korea had a 90,000 well-trained army, with one 
out of every three men a combat veteran, equipped with tanks, artillery, 
aircraft and ships, plus a 45,000 man reserve. South Korea had 
approximately 50,000 men in their army, few of whom were veterans of the 
Japanese Army and mostly poorly trained, equipped and armed. South Korea 
had no tanks, only a few outdated 75mm artillery pieces. about two dozen 
105mm artillery pieces, limited ammunition, a few LST landing craft, one 
Patrol Craft and no combat aircraft.

Once the North Korean's invaded, President Truman decided in the United 
States' interest to support South Korea.

The rest is history.

Regards


Ed Evanhoe, PO Box 916, Antlers, OK, 74523
Author: DARKMOON:  Eighth Army Special Operations in the Korean War
Life Member:  Special Forces & Special Operations Associations
Co-list owner:  Univ. of Kansas-hosted KOREAN-WAR-L
Web Site: http://www.korean-war.com