Jeffrey Conger, Project 3-1, Korean War

http://hist380.ferrellhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Project-3-1.pdf

3 thoughts on “Jeffrey Conger, Project 3-1, Korean War”

  1. cortiz says:

    Christine Ortiz
    I happen to agree with Jeffrey about the importance of the Korean War and giving it its due for this class. I think your three reasons are valid. This is still a very current problem, even though there was an armistice agreement in 1953 that does not mean the war is over. Why do you believe it is called “The Forgotten War?” The South Korean’s still defend against the North Korean’s on a daily basis and the United States still has military personnel stationed in South Korea to prevent an invasion by the North Koreans. North Korea has made it clear that it wants to punish South Korea and intends to unite the Korea’s. North Korea is still backed by China today and that regime is just as unpredictable as North Korea. Just last week North Korea was in the news because they continue to test ballistic missiles which they continue to test against world powers wishes. They seem to get a pass for this dangerous obsession. North Korea has nuclear power and wants create a missile that can launch nuclear warheads. If that should ever happen the world would be a more dangerous place.
    Why do you think we do not just help the South Korean’s go in and finish this war? It seems like this “demilitarized zone” is still a war zone. It would be in the world’s best interest to get rid of a dangerous and unpredictable regime. Do you think both sides see the futility of it because of the great number of casualties, or do you think it is a bigger picture of the strong backings of Russia and China that keeps the United States from helping South Korea? Do you think if we did help, that would start WWIII? Knowing what you see reported in the news today, do you see the North taking over South Korea in your lifetime?
    I do believe this is a current war, one that started in the 1950’s but is still very much relevant to world peace. We are still dealing with countries with communist beliefs, and the Cold War still continues in my opinion.

    • conger87 says:

      Thank you for your remarks Christine. I do not think the US/ROK will ever preemptively invade the North because of China. I do not know if China would actually get involved militarily, but the effects that a war might have on the global economy could be devastating (China cutting off trade to US, China cashing in on US debt it holds, etc.).

  2. Brian Branigan says:

    I can see your point; “As it stands today, North and South Korea are a living relic of a now bygone period of history.” However, I disagree with it being a “bygone period of history.” Threats front the North Korea against South Korea still continue. “According to a U.S. defense official: if confirmed, North Korea attempted to launch an intermediate-range missile. The missile apparently flew for about two or three seconds and then exploded” (Kwon, Hunt, 2016).

    I do agree that The Korean War deserves a weeks’ time in History 380 due to it far reaching Cold War implications. The United States involvement in the Korean War solidified the U.S. role as work police (Sparknotes). The Korean War was a fight against the spread of communist ideology. It was a war in which victory was not the ultimate goal, and it was the first limited war, that is to say, not every possible means were used to defeat the enemy (Sparknotes). Though strategically insignificant, the U.S. still maintains troops in South Korea. Thank you for sharing your views.

    Brian Branigan “I pledge” (180)

    Kwon, KJ, and Katle Hunt. “North Korean Missile Launch Attempt Apparently Failed, South
    Korea Says.” CNN. May 31, 2016. Accessed May 31, 2016.
    http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/30/world/north-korea-attempted-missile-launch/.

    “Korean War.” Sparknotes. accessed June 1, 2016.
    http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/koreanwar/context.html.

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