Japan invaded the Korean peninsula at the turn
of the 20th century, ending Korea's independence.
Forty years of occupation ended with Japan's surrender
to the Allies at the end of World War 2.
The peninsula would now be divided between the globe's
two opposing superpowers, the US and Russia.
They established a capitalist proxy south of the 38th parallel
and a communist one in the north.
What could possibly go wrong?
Roosevelt had big plans for China once the war
ended. They would have a seat on the UN Security
Council along with the world's other leading big shots -
France, Britain, Russia and the U.S.
They would influence the course of history.
Then the unthinkable occurred.
Mao's peasant army was beating up Chiang's military,
the one fortified with $2 billion in American weaponry.
China may go communist but there would be no
Security Council invitation sent to Mao.
If Chiang had only a rowboat to paddle,
he would be awarded China's place at the UN
over Mao and his misguided followers.
Korea's importance to Washington grew as Chiang's
fortunes in China slid towards desperation.
Syngman Rhee was America's choice to lead
South Korea. He was Harvard educated,
conservative and a fervid anticommunist.
He had spent the past thirty-five years living
in the U.S. and could not be accused of
collaboration with the Japanese occupiers,
unlike many of his rivals.
Rhee also had ambitions for wealth and power.
He became both corrupt and intolerant of opposition.
Washington refused him tanks because they feared
Rhee would quickly use them to invade the north.
Kim IL Sung was charismatic, a resistance fighter,
a dedicated communist and the Kremlin's man
to lead Korea, once he unified it.
Stalin repeatedly refused Kim the authority to
attack the South, though. The time was never right.
Like Rhee, Kim was held on a short leash.
Chiang's Nationalist government steadily shrank,
until it ruled over only a few isolated cities strung
along the Chinese coast. The war for control of the
mainland has been decided. Chiang's forces were
dispersed and vulnerable. The Nationalist
government's only hope for survival was a retreat
to the nearby island of Taiwan.
The People's Republic of China was declared from
some government steps in Beijing by Mao Zedong,
October 1, 1949. Now began the process of Asia's
rapid change.
In 1950 Stalin finally agreed to back Kim's plan
to invade South Korea and unify the peninsula.
The time was right. China was now ruled by
a communist government, willing and eager to aid
Kim in his goal of ridding Korea of American influence.
A real game changer though, was Stalin now had
the Bomb. Both superpowers were now armed
with the atom. The playing field was level.
Stalin didn't believe America would go to war
over Kim's attack. Most Americans had never
heard of South Korea and couldn't care less
about some scrap going on in this distant outpost.
Was Truman really going to pull Dad from his
wife and kids, put him back in uniform and ship
him off to Asia to fight over an unknown land
where the winters were subzero?
Not on your life.
* * * * *
OVER EASY
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