What caused the Korean War?

Korean War

The story of Korea under Japanese rule held at the beginning of the twentieth century. In 1905, the Korea became a protectorate of Japan and later, in 1910, completely annexed as a colony in Empire of Japan as the Chosen. The colonial rule officially ended with the surrender of Japan in World War II on 15 August 1945, but in fact, completely ended only with the dismissal of the governor general on the Japanese 12 September 1945 and entitled with the entry into force of the Treaty of Peace San Francisco on 28 April 1952.

Japan conquered Korea in 1910 and ruled the peninsula until 1945. The Japanese occupation force enslaved thousands, drafted thousands more into their military, and forced women into prostitution. Many Koreans collaborated with Japan while others fought against the foreign invaders. Kim Il-Sung led a guerilla communist force against Japan in Korea and China. Eventually, he ruled North Korea.

Toward the end of the war, Kim Il-Sung's communist brethren in the Soviet Union joined the war against Japan. The United States surrendered Eastern European and Manchurian independence in exchange for Soviet military intervention. Despite this, the Allies decided that Korea would eventually be independent without Soviet approval. As the war ended, Stalin's forces occupied North Korea while the Americans secured the south. The powers divided Korea along the 38th parallel because the U.S. wanted the capital within their sphere. The Soviets did not bicker over the demarcation. Stalin surrendered the issue in exchange for more bargaining power with regards to Eastern Europe. The Koreans had no voice in the negotiations.

Originally, the two powers planned to grant Korea full independence in 1950. The Koreans had enough of foreign occupation and protested. Some openly resisted and the situation denigrated into a low grade civil war. Angry Korean loyalists targeted, attacked, and murdered collaborators. As violence escalated, the United States agreed to hold elections to pacify the south. The Soviets balked. The end result was communist north under Kim Il-Sung and a nationalist south led by Syngman Rhee. Behind the scenes, the Soviets and Chinese squabbled over control of North Korea. Meanwhile, South Korean strongman Syngman Rhee and North Korean dictator Kim Il-Sung planned to unify the peninsula.

Both sides engaged in border raids and skirmishes. However, South Korea was not in a position to launch a full scale invasion or repel North Korean attack. The United States furthered Rhee's handicap when it withdrew troops in 1949. The Soviets left North Korea a year before ominously leaving behind a large North Korean army. Despite the disadvantages, Rhee risked war with every incursion. However, it also offered Rhee propaganda opportunities.

The cross-border assaults provided Rhee with the opportunity to eliminate internal threats and blame North Korea. On Christmas Eve 1949, South Korea massacred nearly 90 people in Mungyeong. The government blamed the atrocity on communist raiders. In reality, Rhee's forces massacred their own citizens for collaborating with the communists.

By 1950, Kim Il-Sung decided to invade South Korea and unite the ...