Cause and Effects of Korean War

Causes of the Korean war

The Korean War took place between two opposing Korean regimes. From the 7th century Korea existed as a single country. After the war between China and Japan in 1894-1895, certain parts of Korea were occupied by Japan. The Japanese conquered the entire Korea in August 1910. Towards the conclusion of World War II both the United States and the Soviet Union occupied the Korean peninsula.

The United States approached the United Nations to resolve the issue of a divided Korea. A United Nations Commission decided to hold elections in Korea. The communists in North Korea refused to allow the election. The communists in South Korea boycotted it. The government in South Korea was formed by the anti-communist Syngman Rhee. The Soviet Union put Kim ll-Sung as head of North Korea. The North Korean Army invaded South Korea on June 25 1950. The Chinese entered the war for acquiring strategic depth. They wanted to use North Korea as a buffer against possible US invasion. The United States wanted to stop the spread of communism. The Soviet Union wanted to spread communism to as many countries as possible. The armistice of 27 July 1953 ended the fighting in Korea. The armistice was a temporary cease-fire and not a treaty of peace. It reflected the realization by all the involved parties that neither side had either the means or the will to compel the other to submit to its political agenda. The conflict has remained, despite border clashes and sporadic incidents, for more than half a century.

Effects of the war

There were several casualties on both sides though the exact figure may never be known.The Korean War created more friction between the United States and the Soviet Union. The war demonstrated the will of the United States to do everything possible to prevent the proliferation of communism. A feeling of enmity developed between China and the United States that would last for decades. Families were split with relatives on either sides of the border. This war created a fear in the United States of the domino effects of communism. The United States intervened in Vietnam to avoid another North Korea. South Korea became an important US military base with thousands of American troops stationed there. The Korean War never ended. The inability of the two sides to resolve their differences has meant that the two Koreas and their allies have had to remain on a battle ready state along the border ever since.

Today South Korea has become a major economic and technological power. North Korea is a poverty-stricken, heavily militarized nation. It is hoped that one day the two Koreas will become one. On October 4 2007 the South Korean Leader Roh Moo-Hyun and the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il signed an eight-point peace agreement on issues of permanent peace, economic cooperation, high-level talks, renewal of highway, air travel and train services. North Korea has carried out a controversial nuclear test and several ballistic missile tests. A nuclear North Korea is a threat to both Japan and South Korea.