Outbreak of KW

Attempts to Achieve Unification by SK and NK Leaders

Both Rhee and Kim wanted to unify Korea under their own rule

Rhee

• Willing to use force to unify Korea
  • USA thought Rhee was rash
  • USA did not want to be in a war
  • Only gave Rhee light weapons to prevent him from waging war

Kim

• Persuaded Stalin to help rebuild NK and supply weapons
  • NK had much stronger military than SK
  • USSR did not want to fight USA
  • USSR was not involved directly

Withdrawal of USA and USSR from Korea

• Kim II Sung's Government well-established
• North-Korean army (NKPA) well-trained
  • USSR left in Dec 1948
• USA stayed to bolster South-Korean defences
  • USA left in June 1949

Both USA and USSR did not plan to be invested in Korean affairs

Limited Support from USA and USSR from 1948 to early 1950

Kim actively sought help from USSR to invade SK, but Stalin initially reluctant as he did not want direct confrontation with USA

• After this, communist China formed
• Sino-Soviet treaty so China could help NK
• "Defensive Perimeter" speech did not include SK
• Successful USSR atomic bomb, USA could no longer use atomic bomb as a threat

Stalin changed his mind, sending equipment and CN sent soldiers that had fought in CN's civil war, giving NK a strong advantage over SK

USA viewed Korea's situation as political, not military

• Sent economic aid as it was thought to be more effective in fighting communism
• Did not give Rhee strong military
  • Prevent invasion by SK to NK and dragging USSR and CN into conflict
• Did not want to give Rhee the impression that USA would help in a war

SK had weaker military

Border clashes initiated by SK

• In July 1949, SK attacked NK's west coast fleet, provoking NK into a fierce battle and causing many casualties
  • Showed SK's inability to launch successful attacks
• USA did not want to be involved in a Korea War
  • Rhee's actions made USA reluctant to send heavy weapons to SK

By mid-1950s, NK expected a swift victory, but eventually did not achieve it