Initial Goals
When North Korea invaded South Korea, it has triggered a conflict. The conflict was taken to the United Nations Security Council, the council responded to a resolution that was sponsored by the U.S. The resolution was that the North Koreans' attack on South Korea violated the peace and the U.S. president decided to prosecute the war. The goals were initially to contain the war to keep it from spreading from Asia and Europe and to keep the Soviet Union from joining the North Koreans. The U.S. and China wanted to maintain the democratic line at the 38th parallel. The U.S. also wanted to keep the Soviet Union from spreading communism to South Korea and through the rest of the countries that were threaten with communism. The most important goal was that the North Koreans and South Koreans wanted to unite their country.
Achieved or Failed?
Some of the goals were successful and some of them were unsuccessful. The goal to contain war to keep it from spreading to Asia and Europe was successful because during the Korean War, the war stayed in the Korea. When China joined the war and sided with the North Koreans, General MacArthur wanted to bomb China. However, Truman denied that request and fired MacArthur because he felt that the war would turn into a bigger war and may cause World War III.
The goal of keeping the Soviet Union from joining the North Korea was unsuccessful because the North Koreans decided to keep the Soviet Union's practices and established a communist government. The Soviet Union did not physically enter any formal troops during the Korean War. However, they supported the North Koreans side by supplying China and North Korea armies.
The goal of keeping communism from spreading was somewhat successful because when the war was over, the conflict with communism was delayed. The U.S. was able to keep communism from spreading to South Korea. However, the 2 countries never held an formal agreement, instead they had a ceasefire agreement. The formal agreement was suppose to take place at the Geneva Conference of 1954. But when the conference began, in Indochina, the French colonial war took precedence. Today, there are still tensions between the North Koreans and South Koreans.
The U.S. and China was successful on their goal of maintaining the democratic line at the 38th parallel because neither side gained land from the opposing line. However, the North Koreans and South Koreans failed on their to reunited the country under their preferred political systems. North Korea wanted to rule under a communist government. However, South Korea wanted to rule under an anti-communist rule. The two countries could not agree to reunite under one government so they stayed separated.
The goal of keeping the Soviet Union from joining the North Korea was unsuccessful because the North Koreans decided to keep the Soviet Union's practices and established a communist government. The Soviet Union did not physically enter any formal troops during the Korean War. However, they supported the North Koreans side by supplying China and North Korea armies.
The goal of keeping communism from spreading was somewhat successful because when the war was over, the conflict with communism was delayed. The U.S. was able to keep communism from spreading to South Korea. However, the 2 countries never held an formal agreement, instead they had a ceasefire agreement. The formal agreement was suppose to take place at the Geneva Conference of 1954. But when the conference began, in Indochina, the French colonial war took precedence. Today, there are still tensions between the North Koreans and South Koreans.
The U.S. and China was successful on their goal of maintaining the democratic line at the 38th parallel because neither side gained land from the opposing line. However, the North Koreans and South Koreans failed on their to reunited the country under their preferred political systems. North Korea wanted to rule under a communist government. However, South Korea wanted to rule under an anti-communist rule. The two countries could not agree to reunite under one government so they stayed separated.
Implications
The implications that I can draw about the role of the initial goals of various countries on the Korean War is that I think it that it motivated the countries to work hard and try to accomplish their goal. The role of the goals probably played the hardships an complications during the war because the leaders would try to do anything to accomplish their goal. However, there are obstacles that gets in the way that delays their path of completing the war. The leaders would try to get around those obstacle but there is a chance that they succeed and a chance that they would fail.