In 1950 tensions in Korea escalated into war.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1-4] Level 1 One mark for each relevant point; additional mark for supporting detail
2. [1] Truman was suspicious/ determined/ surprised/ acted quickly.
3. [1] Truman did not want to see further expansion of communism.
4. [1] The US had a policy of containment.
5. [1] Truman saw the invasion as an act of aggression by North Korea.
6. [1] Truman was worried that if South Korea fell, Formosa and Japan could be next.
7. [1] Truman feared the spread of communism into Asia.
8. [1] Truman decided a firm response to the first communist threat would be effective.
9. [1] Truman blamed the Soviet Union for the attack.
10. [1] The actions of North Korea were seen as part of Moscow's attempt to gain world domination.
11. [1] Truman mobilised the US navy around the Korean coast.
12. [1] The US put into the Security Council a resolution for the cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of North Korean forces to the 38th parallel.
13. [6] Level 4 Explains TWO reasons
14. [4-5] Level 3 Explains ONE reason
15. [4] Kim Il-Sung wanted to unite Korea under Communist rule. He had the backing of Communist leaders such as Stalin and felt that he was in a strong position. He knew he had strong forces and powerful allies, so he decided to invade.
16. [2-3] Level 2 Identifies AND/OR describes reasons
17. [1] Kim Il-Sung wanted to unite Korea.
18. [1] Kim had the support of Stalin.
19. [1] Kim thought the US would not get involved.
20. [1] North Korea saw itself as the legitimate government of Korea.
21. [1] North Korean forces were stronger than those of South Korea.
22. [1] North Korea wanted the whole of Korea to be Communist.
23. [1] North Korea wanted South Korea's resources.
24. [1] Level 1 General answer lacking specific contextual knowledge
25. [1] North Korea thought it would defeat the South.
26. [10] Level 5 Explains with evaluation of 'how far'
27. [7-9] Level 4 Explanation of both sides
28. [4-6] Level 3 One-sided explanation OR one explanation of both sides 5 to 6 marks
29. [4] The Korean War was a success for the UN as the Communist forces of the North were not able to overrun the South and an armistice was agreed at the 38th parallel. This meant a stable situation was achieved and the dividing line between the two Koreas was in the same place. The UN forces, drawn from 16 countries, had helped to prevent one country from overrunning another.
30. [4] The UN was dominated by the US and this made the UN look weak. The Korean War was a victory for the USA as it provided 90% of UN forces. It was the aim of North Korea to take over the South. In 1950 they invaded the South and pushed its forces back to Pusan. However, US troops managed to push them back. Even when the Chinese helped North Korea, the Americans were able to defend the South. The Americans had won because they had stopped South Korea being overrun and becoming communist.
31. [2-3] Level 2 Identifies AND/OR describes
32. [1] South Korea was defended.
33. [1] North Korea failed to conquer South Korea and make it communist.
34. [1] Chinese forces were forced back into North Korea.
35. [1] The UN troops came from many countries.
36. [1] The USA led the forces that saved South Korea.
37. [1] The border between North and South ended up where it had been at the start.
38. [1] The UN failed to achieve a unified and democratic Korea.
39. [1] The UN was seen as a creature of the USA.
40. [1] The Chinese forced UN forces back into South Korea.
41. [1] 90% of UN forces were provided by the USA.
42. [1] Level 1 General answer lacking specific contextual knowledge
43. [1] Neither the UN nor the US gained much from the Korean War.