RE: Was Kim Il Sung Justified to Invade Seoul?

From my reading the history I think Kim and Rhee's intentions were to take over each others power.

They certainly were behaving like other Asian Warlords with their tactics creating provacative acts.

Giving the other an excuse to retailiate. Kim prepared better and when he had the strength he attacked.

I see Kim locking up Stalin's and Mao's support using the fear of the Allies presence.

Russia has for decades protected Mongolia from the Japanese and most certaily would not allow any incursion from Allied powers. Rhee OTOH did the same thing to the US powers to get them involved.

During the Peace talks the US all but threatened Rhee to not restart the war.

Made big concessions to make sure the 38th parrelle stayed that way with US economic help.

At any rate all the superpower got tired ultimatley wasting resources

over a civil war nobody was going to get anything out of.

Dan Fahey

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-KOREAN-WAR-L@raven.cc.ku.edu [mailto:owner-KOREAN-WAR-L@raven.cc.ku.edu]On Behalf Of ysk
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2002 10:58 AM
To: KOREAN-WAR-L@raven.cc.ku.edu
Subject: Was Kim Il Sung Justified to Invade Seoul?

Was Kim Il Sung Justified to Invade Seoul?

The terrorist attacks of 9-11 on the American homeland is justification enough for the US to wage war on Afghanistan and possibly on other countries - Iraq, North Korea and other 'rogue' nations.

Kim Il Sung stated in his declaration of war address in June 1950 that his troops were retaliating against attacks by Rhee's terrorists.

Until recently, American historians depicted Rhee Syngman as a man of God (indeed, Rhee taught Sunday school in America for some 20 years), of peace (in fact, Rhee kept on harping - March North, 'buk-jin', and sent his goons up north to kill "Reds") and of democracy (Rhee had his political opponents shot). Volumes of contrary facts have emerged and even the most rightist historians now accept that Rhee was no Saint.

Pyongyang claims that North Korea was provoked into invading Seoul. Was Kim justified? Was the US right to save Rhee's neck?

ysk