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Handshake

Part 1 - Rivalry, Mistrust & Accord (The Cold War)

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World Map

Case study 1: Japanese Expansion In East Asia 1931-41 (The Global War)

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Chart Increasing

Case Study 2: German & Italian Expansion 1933-40 (The Global War)

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Medal

Part 2 - Leaders & Nations (The Cold War)

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Radioactive

Part 3 - Cold War Crises (The Cold War)

<ul>
	<li>1910: Japan annexed Korea.</li>
	<li>End of WW2: Japan still occupied Korea.</li>
	<li>1945 Revolution: Led by Korean nationalists including Communists.</li>
	<li>Post-WW2: USA &amp; USSR decided the fate of Korea, not the nationalists.</li>
</ul>

Dividing line between

<ul>
	<li>North Korea: USSR occupied</li>
	<li>South Korea: USA occupied</li>
</ul>

Intended Plan: Temporary split, leading to a united independent Korea.

<ul>
	<li>Cold War: USA &amp; USSR became frenemies.</li>
	<li>Different Administrations
	<ul>
		<li>South: Syngman Rhee (anti-Japanese rebel, long exile, older).</li>
		<li>North: Kim Il Sung (young, Russian-trained, anti-Japanese guerrilla).</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
</ul>

Similarities between Rhee &amp; Kim

<ul>
	<li>Both were Korean nationalists.</li>
	<li>Both opposed Korea&#39;s split.</li>
	<li>Both wanted to be the leader of a united Korea.</li>
</ul>

1947: Korea&#39;s split is confirmed due to Cold War tensions.

<ul>
	<li>South Korea: Republic of Korea (ROK) established, undemocratic, anti-Communist.</li>
	<li>North Korea: Democratic People&rsquo;s Republic of Korea (DPRK) established, backed by Communist countries.
	<ul>
		<li>1948-1949: Both USA &amp; USSR withdrew their troops.</li>
		<li>USA&#39;s Asia Strategy: Maintain &quot;strong points&quot; from Japan to the Philippines. South Korea and Taiwan were not part of their main defense strategy.</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
</ul>

The Main Question: Why get involved in a war after withdrawing? 💥

<ul>
	<li>Orthodox View: USSR started it.</li>
	<li>Revisionist View: USSR didn&#39;t start it; maybe it was North Korea&#39;s response to the South.</li>
	<li>Historian Bruce Cumings (1981): USSR&#39;s control over North Korea wasn&#39;t strong. Kim Il Sung possibly acted independently.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>Wanted to unite Korea.</li>
	<li>A civil war would&#39;ve started even without superpower involvement.</li>
	<li>But, superpowers were essential for winning.</li>
	<li>Kim spent a lot of energy persuading Stalin to back his attack plans.</li>
	<li>War impulse? Pyongyang. But, Moscow&#39;s (Stalin&#39;s) support was key for the war.</li>
</ul>

🍕 Real-world analogy 🍕: Imagine two siblings (North and South Korea) fighting over who gets the bigger slice of pizza. Their parents (USA and USSR) initially say they don&#39;t want to get involved. But, one sibling convinces one parent to back them up. Suddenly, it&#39;s not just about pizza. It&#39;s a full-blown family feud.

Part 1 - Rivalry, Mistrust & Accord (The Cold War)

Unveiling The Origins Of The Korean War: Kim Il Sung Vs Syngman Rhee

Table of content

Setting the Scene 🌏

Important Term - 38th parallel 🎯

Why the plan didn't work 🚫

Unlock the Full Content!

Part 1 - Rivalry, Mistrust & Accord (The Cold War)

Unveiling The Origins Of The Korean War: Kim Il Sung Vs Syngman Rhee

Table of content

Setting the Scene 🌏

Important Term - 38th parallel 🎯

Why the plan didn't work 🚫

Unlock the Full Content!