Section A (Source - Based Case Study)

Question 1 is compulsory for all candidates

Study the Background Information and the sources carefully and then answer all the
questions.
You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions, in addition to
those sources you are told to use. In answering the questions you should use your
knowledge of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources.

(a)

Study Source A.
What does the source tell you about the Soviet Unions involvement in
the Korean War? Explain your answer
(b)

Study Source B.
Why was this cartoon published?
Explain your answer using details of the source.

(c)

[5]

[5]

Study Sources C and D.

Do both sources agree on who was responsible for the Korean War?
Explain your answer.
(d)

Study Source E.
How reliable is this source as evidence of USA involvement in the
Korean War? Explain your answer.

(e)

[6]

[6]

Study all sources.

The USSR was responsible for the outbreak of the Korean War.
How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

[8]

Who was responsible for the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950?
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Read this carefully. It may help you to answer some of the questions.

The Korean War began on 25 June 1950 when communist North Korea invaded the
South with six army divisions. These North Korean forces, backed by impressive
Communist Soviet equipment including tanks, made quick gains into the territory.
The United States (US) decided to intervene in the defence of the South and, taking
advantage of the Soviet absence from the UN Security Council, proceeded to press
for UN resolutions condemning the invasion. Days later a resolution was passed
calling upon member countries to give assistance to South Korea to repulse the
attack. General Douglas MacArthur, then in charge of US forces in the Pacific and of
the occupation of Japan, was appointed commander of the joint forces. However,
were the Communists really responsible for the Korean War?

Source A:

A telegram from President Kim Il Sung to Chairman Malenkov (Stalins

successor) on the occasion of the signing of the Korean Armistice
Agreement on 29 July 1953.

It is a day to celebrate! Thank you for going all out to protect our civilians against
the atrocities committed by the Americans. I am deeply convinced that the
enormous military aid and support of Soviet Union to the Korean people serves
as one of the main factors in defence of the freedom and independence of our
motherland against the American aggressors. This would be a reliable guarantee
that the Korean people will successfully carry out the peaceful unification of their
motherland and the speedy recovery of an economy destroyed by war.
Source B: A cartoon published in the Pravda, a Russian newspaper in 1952
Counter

offensive - an attack by an army against an attacking enemy force.

Source C:

Part of a telegram from Stalin to the Soviet Ambassador in North

Korea, 01 July 1950.
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You did not report anything about what kind of plans the North Korean command
has. Does it intend to push on? Or has it decided to stop the advance. In our opinion
the attack must continue. The sooner South Korea is liberated, the less chance there
is for US intervention. We have decided to fulfill fully, by July 10 th, the Koreans'
requests for delivery of ammunition and other military equipment. Report about this
to Kim Il Sung immediately.

Source D:

A leaflet published by the United Nations during the Korean War.

Mao Ze Dong

Stalin

Kim Il Sung

Korean Ox, Chinese Servant, Russian Master!

Source E: Adapted from a statement sent by the North Korean Foreign

Minister to UN on 28 September 1950.
American intervention and the civil war started by American imperialists and their running
dogs headed by Rhee Syngman have caused tremendous hardships upon the Korean
people, for which the American government is solely responsible. Through its official
representatives, the American government supplied the bandits of Rhee Syngman (leader
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of South Korea) with political, military and economic aid, directed in the building and
training of Rhees army and in working out the aggressive plan for the invasion of North
Korea. Such encouragement and aid, spurred the Rhee Syngman clique to start a civil war
in Korea.