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The
Background to the Korean conflict stretches back
to the division of the korean peninsular at the
end of World War Two, with the Communist Russians
taking possession of the industrial north, north
of the 38th Parallel, and the United States (
under the auspices of the United Nations ) taking
control of the agricultural south. Setting the
stage for the conflict that would begin only five
years later.
In
1949, both Russia and the United States withdrew
their troops in 1949, leaving behind them the
respective armies of the North, a powerful North
Korean Soviet-trained army, and in the south, a
smaller, weaker Republic Of Korea (ROK) army.
Stalin,
interested in the expansion of Soviet Communism,
saw vast opportunities in asia and the pacific,
with the advent of the first Soviet nuclear test
in 1949, he saw that he could soon challenge the
United States. But rebuffed the North Korean
leaders attempts to create a military alliance
with Russia.
Another
mistake, this time on the part of the Americans
was the announcements by the then Secretary of
State Dean Acthinson that the Korean Peninsular
'was within the defence perimeter of the United
States.' This echoed throughout the communist
world, and probably contributed a great deal to
Stalin's reason for giving his support to a North
Korean attack on South Korea. With Communism
spreading across the pacific, the British and
French both fighting to retain control of their
colonies in the area. The French in Vietnam and
the British in Malaya.
Stalin
gave his approval to the North Korean attack
dependent on the Chinese approval. Although the
North Korea leader gave Stalin the impression that
the war would be over in 30 days.
Using
no radio or electronic signals as communications,
as the Russian and North Koreans relied on human
couriers, as fear of betrayal was high, to carry
the attack orders to their division waiting near
the front in deserted villages. Which the US
Intelligence believed was an agricultural
experiment, the North meanwhile used propaganda to
call for Unifying elections and peace proposals.
Meanwhile,
General McArthur, in Tokyo overseeing the
rebuilding of Japan, discounted the reports that
North Korean might attack. He was busy outlining
his points for the upcoming Japanese peace treaty.
North Korea on the other hand, failed to notify
China of its intent and China was preparing to
invade Taiwan at the time. CIA Intelligence
reports of an impending attack went unheeded.
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