The Korean War 1950-1953: Everything About It

By 1951, “both Chinese and U.S leaders concluded that the cost of a military victory to unite North and South Korea was simply too high.” The war still proceeded, but the purpose of fighting changed; it wasn’t to win, but just to keep up the pressure on their enemies whilst negations took place. There were many talks held, but got nowhere because neither side had trust in the other, and arguments about Prisoners of War (POW’s) “became a stumbling block in the cease-fire talks.”

In 1953, however there were many changes in leadership. It was the change of the dictator of the Soviet Union that was most crucial. When Joseph Stalin died on March 5th, 1953, “the new Soviet leadership soon indicated that it saw no reason why an agreement on a cease-fire should be delayed any longer.”  An armistice agreement was signed on July 27th, 1953, and so the senseless war was over at last.

At the end of the Korean War, “both sides ended up more or less back at the 38th parallel.” Korea ended up still divided and hostile. There was no real resolution to the issues which began the Korean War, but a lot of knowledge was gained which has prevented the war from breaking out again. Everyone involved in the war realised that it was no use fighting to unite Korea, because all that it was doing was causing tensions between countries and a lot of damage, death and destruction.

International relations were altered significantly from the Korean War. The fear of the spread of communism increased drastically and so SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organisation) and CENTO(Central Treaty Organisation) were formed by democrats to contain communism; this brought democratic countries closer and stronger together. Allies were gained for both North and South Korea. SouthKorea made an alliance with the U.S, and NorthKorea made allies withthe Soviet Union and China. Japan changed from a U.S “hated World War 2 enemy into a valued ally,” because of how the Japanese had supplied the UN forces in Korea. With the end of the Korean War, Russia and the United States were still seen as the two major powers in the world, but to a much greater extent. Neither Russia nor the U.S would go to war against each other from then on, to prevent a World War 3 from occurring.

The Korean War had been a catastrophe for both North Korea and South Korea. Korean roads, railways, dams and factories were destroyed and most of Korea’s towns and cities lay in ruins. About one tenth of Korea’s population was killed throughout the war. Surprisingly, SouthKorea prospered in a few ways, with an expansion in shipbuilding, car making and other manufacturing. Unfortunately for North Korea, they “became the most hardline communist state in the world” and the majority of its population lives in poverty and have no rights of freedom. Korea still remains divided, with extra hostility as a result from the war.

In conclusion, the Korean War began in 1950 and ended in 1953. There were many lives lost from every country involved in the war such as North Korea, South Korea, the Soviet Union, China, the United States and the members of the United Nations. A lot of tensions between countries were caused, but also allies and the formation of SEATO and CENTO were gained. By the end of the Korean War, both sides ended up more or less back at the 38th parallel. International relations were strongly affected by this disastrous war, and “there is still a long journey ahead before the legacy of the Korean War can finally be overcome.”