Korean War Research Paper

The Korean peninsula found itself in a situation much like Germany during the early years of the Cold War. Korea was under Japanese control until the surrender of the Japanese at the close of World War II. The 38th Parallel divided the Korean Peninsula into two halves. North Korea was under Communist control with the Soviets placing Kim Il-Sung as the leader. With Soviet assistance and training, Sung had quickly repressed the opposition in North Korea and solidified his control with Russian support. (1)

South Korea was under the control of the Syngman Rhee, this president enjoyed minimal support from the South Korean population, as having aligned himself with the occupying Japanese forces prior to and during World War II. In 1947, Rhee led a bloody campaign that resulted in the killing of
The war was also between the largest war in history (WWII) and the longest war American would become involved in a few years later (Vietnam.) There was no great mobilization or rationing to support the war effort as the American population had seen during World War II. The goals and aims in Korea were complex and unclear. The War never truly ended, and there was no victor or vanquished. The war continues to this day with troops continually combat ready on both sides of the border. (2)

The impact of the Korean War can be felt to this day. For the first time, Communist and Capitalist forces faced each other in open conflict. The United States supporting the United Nations had stopped and countered the communist expansion into South Korea. The stalemate that ended hostilities in 1953 gave no real closure to those involved on either side of the 38th Parallel. The firing of MacArthur by Truman created a situation in Washington that soured the unifying support of the war effort in the eyes of the government’s leadership. Many felt the war was not being conducted efficiently or properly.