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Development of the Cold War
Quick questions on The Korean War explained: O-Level History
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the division of Korea?Show answer
Korea had been occupied by Japan, but at the end of the Second World War it was divided along a line of latitude (the 38th parallel) into two zones: a communist north backed by the Soviet Union and China, and a non-communist south backed by the United States. This was meant to be temporary, but, as in Germany, the division hardened into two hostile states: communist North Korea and anti-communist South Korea. Each claimed the right to rule the whole country, and the border was tense. Korea had become another place where the Cold War rivalry could turn violent.
What is the North Korean invasion, 1950?Show answer
In 1950 communist North Korea launched a full-scale invasion of the south, quickly overrunning most of South Korea. To the United States, this looked like clear communist aggression, perhaps encouraged by the Soviet Union and China, and exactly the kind of expansion that containment was meant to stop. Coming soon after China had become communist in 1949, it heightened American fears that communism was advancing across Asia. The United States decided it had to act to defend South Korea.
What is q1?Show answer
Along what line was Korea divided after the Second World War? [3 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Explain why China entered the Korean War. [5 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
"The Korean War achieved nothing because Korea remained divided." How far do you agree? [8 marks]
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