Summary of Max Hastings's Korean War

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#1 In 1882, Korea signed a treaty of amity and commerce with the United States. In the following years, Korea was invaded by Japan, and in 1904, became a Japanese protectorate. In a characteristic exercise of the colonial cynicism of the period, the British accepted Japanese support for their rule in India in exchange for blessing Tokyo’s takeover of Korea.

#2 The Korean War, which was triggered by the annexation of Korea by Japan in 1910, was over in 1945, and the Japanese empire was in the hands of the broker’s men. Koreans found themselves freed from Japanese domination, and sought fulfillment of the promise of the leaders of the Grand Alliance in the 1943 Cairo Declaration.

#3 The American decision to land troops in Korea was taken only at the end of the war. The Japanese colony had been excluded from the complex 1943–45 negotiations about occupation zones between the partners of the Grand Alliance. The Americans liked the idea of a period of self-government for Korea and other colonial possessions in the Far East.

#4 The American view of Korea changed dramatically after the two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. The 38th parallel, which separated North and South Korea, was agreed upon by the Americans and the Russians, and Moscow was content to settle for half.

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Ebook: 4 juni 2022