Reflections on the Aftermath
Even after the signing of the Armistice, the costs of the Korean War could not be easily forgotten by its people. In total, the count of killed, wounded, or missing reached 4 million, 2/3 of which were Koreans, constituting about 43% of the Korean Peninsula's population in 1950, and 70% were civilians.3 Beyond physical costs, both North and South Korea's economies were also heavily affected by the war. South Korea suffered $2 billion in property damage, equivalent to its GNP in 1949, while North Korea estimated its damages to be around $1,700 million.3
Another nation that supported the United Nations was Britain, which dispatched troops to assist South Korea and, likewise experienced significant casualties.3 This involvement also served as a reminder of the recent and painful memories from the Second World War. The nation found itself reliving those difficult times, with families being separated due to the deployment or evacuation of their loved ones.3
Yet, despite these losses, the Korean War is often referred to as "the Forgotten War," as attention is usually focused on more well-known conflicts, such as World War I, II, and the Vietnam War.6
Furthermore, the Armistice agreement, while ending the Korean War, did not stop the ongoing militarization of US policy in Asia. As such, the US continued to view China as a potential future enemy, subsequently influencing US policy in Asia and their relations.18 Considering as well that the war ended with a divided country (North and South Korea), this has shaped the next Asian wars in which the US was involved, such as those in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.18
As such, the US involvement in the Vietnam War stemmed from the fear that if Vietnam were to fall to Communism, this might force other Southeast Asian countries to succumb as well.1 This is the so-called Domino Theory, which further shaped US foreign policies and involvement.1
In a nutshell, following the Korean War and during the height of the Cold War, American policy is observed to have the following key features: a heightened conflict with the USSR, a perceived threat of war, substantial defense budgets, sizable armies in Europe, the perception of a united Sino-Soviet bloc, recognition of limited wars as a significant danger, and steadfast anti-Communist commitments.1 These features collectively shaped and characterized the strategic landscape during this period, as well as the future wars.