The Korean War Trivia Quiz

Answer: Syngman Rhee

Syngman Rhee was the first president of South Korea. His presidency, from August 1948 to April 1960, remains controversial. It was affected by Cold War tensions on the Korean peninsula and elsewhere. Rhee was regarded as an anti-Communist and a 'strongman', and he led South Korea through the Korean War. His presidency ended in resignation following popular protests against a disputed election. He died in exile in Hawaii.

Answer: Japan

Japan annexed the Korean peninsula in 1910 and continued to accupy it till 1945. During this period many Koreans fled to China and Russia. From these countries several resistance groups operated against the Japanese.

Answer: 38th

Stalin and Roosevelt divided Korea along the 38th parallel. The idea of dividing Korea along the 38th parallel dates from 1902 when Japan suggested to Russia that Korea could be divided so they both could have a piece of Korea and avoid conflict. However, this agreement was never signed.

Answer: Ethiopia

Ethiopia ordered three 1,200-man battalions to the UN Command, beginning in June 1951 but only one battalion at a time. The first of these battalions - known as Kagnew (Conquerors') Battalions - arrived in May 1951 and was assigned to the U.S. 7th Infantry Division.

Answer: Douglas MacArthur

Douglas MacArthur was appointed as Supreme Commander by the United Nations. He had also been Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers in Japan after World War II.

Answer: Yalu

The Yalu River (Chinese) or the Amnok River (Korean), is a river on the border between China and North Korea. The Chinese name comes from a Manchu word meaning "the boundary between two fields".

Answer: True

MacArthur tried to convince US politicians to take the war into China. With the use of nuclear weapons China could have been destroyed. This opinion, along with numerous arguments with the U.S. president concerning the Korean War, led to the discharge of MacArthur.

Answer: when U.N forces were getting near the Chinese border

The Chinese made contact with American troops on October 25, 1950, with 270,000 People's Volunteer Army troops under the command of General Peng Dehuai, much to the surprise of the UN, which had disregarded evidence of such a massive force. However, after these initial engagements, the Chinese forces pulled back into the mountains. UN leaders saw the withdrawal as a sign of weakness and greatly underestimated Chinese fighting capability.

The UN forces thus continued their advance to the Yalu River, ignoring stern warnings from the Chinese.

Answer: UNSC resolution 82

The same day the war had officially begun (June 25), the United Nations immediately drafted UNSC Resolution 82, which called for:

1. all hostilities to end and North Korea to withdraw to the 38th Parallel;
2. a UN Commission on Korea to be formed to monitor the situation and report to the Security Council;
3. all UN members to support the United Nations in achieving this, and refrain from providing assistance to the North Korean authorities

Answer: True

The war began on 25th June 1950 and ended unofficially on 27th July 1953 when an armistice was signed and the DMZ was set up to separate North Korea and South Korea; and allow the return of prisoners. However, a peace treaty was never signed between these two countries.