U.S. Foreign Policy During the Korean War
Dates of Conflict
The Korean War stretched from the North Korean attack on June 25, 1950 to the signing of the armistice on July 27, 1953.
Leaders of Conflict
North Korea declared war on South Korea on June 25, 1945. During the Korean War, Kim ll-Sung led the communist troops of North Korea as they quickly gained ground. The South Koreans struggled to defend themselves while President Truman of the United states called the US Navy into action. Truman ordered a full naval blockade but, due to budget cuts, was unable to fund the order. President Truman approached the United Nations to request its assistance in sending soldiers to support South Korea’s efforts to resist North Korea’s aggression. With North Korea receiving support and funds from dictator Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union, the South Koreans looked to the west for supplies and troops. The Korean War was the first large proxy war during the Cold War. The North Koreans were pushed back after the United States stepped in with the hopes of stopping the spread of communism. The communists were nearly at China’s border when the Chinese, led by Peng Dehuai, a renowned Chinese military leader, launched an attack against the United States. After pushing the US back to the 38th parallel, fighting ensued for roughly two years.
United States' Goals During the War
The goal of the United States during the Korean War was to prevent the spread of communism and allow the more "westernized" government of South Korea to take control of all of Korea. At the time before the war started, both North and South Korea felt like they had the right to rule all of the Korean peninsula. US and the UN joining the war was in reaction to North Korea attempting to take South Korea by force. The trend of US being vehemently against communism is a trend that started before the Korean war and did not end after the war was over.
Type of Foreign Policy
While the US was trying to preserve the Western ideals, they were also making an effort to control other parts of the world. The main purpose of the war was to prevent the spread of communism, as that might pose a threat to Western democracy. The US was butting heads with the Soviets through Korea. Due to these facts the US was taking the role of what you might call a "World Policeman."
Foreign Policy in the Korean War vs. Other Wars
The United States’ foreign policy during WWII was mostly focused on Collective Security, that is, to work with the Allied countries to keep the Axis powers from spreading across the world. The United States had been, for the most part, following an Isolationist Policy until Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.
Many countries had to put aside their differences in order to overthrow Hitler and his Nazis. When the war ended in 1945, and former Japanese-controlled Korea was divided between the Soviet Union (in the North) and America (in the South), these differences resurfaced. America’s Democratic Republic clashed with the Soviet Union’s Communist government. When North Korea invaded South Korea, starting the Korean War, the U.S. immediately became involved; for fear that the Soviet Union would seek to spread Communism beyond South Korea. This was an act of Internationalism; the United States entered the war in Korea unilaterally, to serve national interests.
Many countries had to put aside their differences in order to overthrow Hitler and his Nazis. When the war ended in 1945, and former Japanese-controlled Korea was divided between the Soviet Union (in the North) and America (in the South), these differences resurfaced. America’s Democratic Republic clashed with the Soviet Union’s Communist government. When North Korea invaded South Korea, starting the Korean War, the U.S. immediately became involved; for fear that the Soviet Union would seek to spread Communism beyond South Korea. This was an act of Internationalism; the United States entered the war in Korea unilaterally, to serve national interests.
Banner Image: 16-inch Salvo from the USS Missouri at Chong Jin, Korea. 1950. Wikimedia Commons. By United States Navy. Web.