U.S. and Korea in Vietnam and the Japan-Korea Treaty: Search for Security, Prosperity and Influence

Abstract

This thesis uses significant new evidences from the archives of the JFK and LBJ Presidential libraries as well as open primary sources from the U.S. and Korea to shed new light on the Korean involvement in the Vietnam War, the Japan-Korea normalization treaty of 1965 and the connection between the two. Contrary to popular versions of the Korean entry into Vietnam which focus on the economic rationale, this paper argues that security was the principal factor behind Korea's decision. In addition, it provides evidence that, as early as 1962, Korea had been looking for ways to become involved in Vietnam. Although the Korean people were viscerally against the Japan-Korea treaty President Park Chung Hee was able to garner support by using the vietnam war to unify the country and undermine opposition to the treaty thus gaining the economic foundation for Korean development.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA237979

Entities

People

  • Jiyul Kim

Organizations

  • Harvard University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Department Of State
  • Employment
  • Foreign Relations
  • Health Services
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Budgets
  • Military Science
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Political Systems
  • Treaties
  • Vietnam War
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • International Relations, focusing on Korea-Africa and North Korea-South Korea relations, and Nigeria-Latin American Relations.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security