The Korean War was significant in causing the militarization of Cold War changed intensified the existing means of which the Cold War was fought by. In 1948, the US defense budget was leveled at $98.5 billion and by 1951, this amount had increased by 176 % to $439.9 billion. The US also signed the ANZUS pact in 1951 with Australia and New Zealand, whereby US would protect Australia and New Zealand against a resurgent Japan while Australia and New Zealand will help the US to defend the Pacific against the communist incursions. The outbreak of Korea War also caused the militarization of NATO which had previously been only a ‘symbolic’ agreement between the allied countries. The US also started defending Taiwan who was under the leadership of Chiang Kai Shek who previously led the Nationalist in the Chinese Civil War. The militarization actions of US through the military alliances and enhancing of military preparations brought by the outbreak of the Korean War intensified the existing means of the Cold War. The US was afraid of increasing USSR aggressiveness, as a result, the US wanted to be prepared for the possibility of a Soviet attack hence they enhanced the militarization of Cold War, however, it caused the increased in tensions between the US and USSR. The strong reaction of US through militarization and the usage of military means by General MacArthur in Korean War also involved US in a ‘hot’ war, which was dangerous because if the USSR were to respond to US actions, the Cold War would be escalated to a ‘Hot’ War hence the Korean War was significant in the Cold War context.
The Korean War was significant in resulting in the emergence of several watershed events like the globalization of the Cold War where there were entries of new parties into the conflict and also the spreading of the conflict of Cold War into Asia. The Korean War started out as a localized conflict in between North Korea (NK) and South Korea (SK). It became part of the Cold War conflict after US interference because the US had assumed USSR was behind the spark of conflict between NK and SK. During US’s attempts to defend SK against NK, MacArthur had led the US troops across the 38th parallel and thereby coming close to the Chinese border. The presence of US troops on the Chinese border was a threat to China’s national security and Mao feared that the success of US’s efforts in fighting NK will encourage China’s political opponents such as Chiang Kai Shek to attempt a counter revolution and attack China Mainland with the support of US armed forces. Hence, the Chinese decided to intervene in the conflict and China made a massive military effort in the conflict, deploying 2.3 million troops and suffering over 360,000 casualties. The involvement in China in the conflict was significant as it widened the scope of the Cold War, introducing the entry of China as a new participant to the conflict.
The Korean War increased the US resolve to fight the Communism not only in Europe, but on a global scale too. The Korean War increased the US concerns of the spread of communism to other countries of Asia, as a result, the US made the decision to provide military assistance to France in 1950 in the hope of the French army defeating the communist Vietminh. The US did not want France to redraw from Vietnam for fear of communism spreading in Vietnam and from there other parts of Asia (domino theory). Because the China marketplace was boycotted and Indochina became a new market for Japan hence US felt that the fate and future of South East Asia (SEA) were intertwined hence Japan and non-communist countries of SEA must work together well to ensure mutual prosperity. If one country was to fall prey to communism, all countries will too be affected too. Hence the Korean War was significant in heightening US’s concern in containment of Communism which was similar to the context of the Cold War, just that in this case US’s concern was in the geographical area of Asia.
The Korean War reignited the issue of West Germany rearmament and sovereignty which had been a huge source of concern for the USSR and one of the reasons that led to the strong tension between the US and USSR. However due to the outbreak of Korean War, the US saw the rearmament of West Germany as a central to the reinforcement of NATO and wanted West Germany to have a part in the defending of Western Europe against Communism. But due to opposition from the French, West Germany could only join the European Army and NATO. Later on, US recognized West Germany as a full sovereign state and abolished all remaining occupation control. The rearmament of West Germany and membership in NATO represented a major defeat for Soviet policies towards Germany. The combination of US economic strength and technology with German manpower and military prowess was a strategic ‘nightmare’ for the Soviets, it was a major threat to their national security and the Soviets were worried about the consequences of a rearmed Germany. Hence USSR cemented its relationship with its Eastern European allies and formed the Warsaw pact, a mutual defense treaty between 8 communist countries in 1955. Hence the Korean War was significant in the addition of the military bloc between the Super Powers in the Cold War context, through the rearmament of West Germany, and hence contributed to an increase in tension between the 2 Super Powers.
In conclusion, the Korean War was significant in the Cold War context as it saw the intensification of the Cold War and the addition of new participants in the conflict, together with a geographical scope to the Cold War. The Korean War eventually resulted in the increase in tensions and misunderstanding between the 2 Super Powers hence intensifying the Cold War.
