Above: 1952, Australian and NZ personnel alongside their notice outside Anzac Park, a playing field they have built alongside defensive positions
The Korean war was and still is a significant conflict with New Zealand, because
Contents
-Alliances and NZ - US Relations
-Vietnam and future conflicts to support US
-Impact on Veterans
-Celebrations today
Up until the mid-20th century, New Zealand was largely reliant on Britain for security and foreign affairs. After World War 2, New Zealand began looking towards the United States for security ties, after alliances were formed in the Pacific Theater combating the Japanese war efforts. The events in North Korea provided an opportunity for New Zealand to pursue its goal of obtaining a commitment by the United States to its security. In 1951, the United States was eager to normalize relations with Japan, particularly as the Korean War was raging a short distance from Japan, which threatened UN troops from an assault from Japanese forces. However, the governments of Australia and New Zealand were extremely reluctant to finalize a peace treaty with Japan that would allow for Japanese rearmament and threaten Australia and New Zealand. These countries initially resisted signing a peace treaty with Japan, only accepted the peace treaty when the United States agreed to sign the ANZUS pact that would ensure if one country was attacked, the US, Australia and New Zealand would retaliate with the support of one another, stating "an attack on one country would be an attack on all (three)".
Contents
-Alliances and NZ - US Relations
-Vietnam and future conflicts to support US
-Impact on Veterans
-Celebrations today
Up until the mid-20th century, New Zealand was largely reliant on Britain for security and foreign affairs. After World War 2, New Zealand began looking towards the United States for security ties, after alliances were formed in the Pacific Theater combating the Japanese war efforts. The events in North Korea provided an opportunity for New Zealand to pursue its goal of obtaining a commitment by the United States to its security. In 1951, the United States was eager to normalize relations with Japan, particularly as the Korean War was raging a short distance from Japan, which threatened UN troops from an assault from Japanese forces. However, the governments of Australia and New Zealand were extremely reluctant to finalize a peace treaty with Japan that would allow for Japanese rearmament and threaten Australia and New Zealand. These countries initially resisted signing a peace treaty with Japan, only accepted the peace treaty when the United States agreed to sign the ANZUS pact that would ensure if one country was attacked, the US, Australia and New Zealand would retaliate with the support of one another, stating "an attack on one country would be an attack on all (three)".
Above: Cartoon by Eric Walmsley, 1970, detailing the relative significance of the New Zealand Naval forces in comparison to that of the United States and Australia, all countries that are included in the ANZUS pact. It describes the isolation and vulnerability New Zealanders felt during the months New Zealand was banned from the ANZUS
As part of the United Nations deployment, New Zealand fought alongside the United States and Australia in the Korean War. Support from New Zealand in was pressured on New Zealand by the United States using the ANZUS pact. New Zealand agreed to send troops to assist in the support efforts of the US, to help secure New Zealand's position with the US as a major ally and fearing that not doing so would compromise security.
All in all, 4700 New Zealand uniforms served during the seven year involvement in Korea. 45 of those lost their life; 33 in combat action. One member of the Kayforce was taken as a prisoner of war and held in North Korea for 18 months and returned after the armistice was signed in 1953.
The death toll of those who served was not as significant as the loss incurred as a result of previous conflicts New Zealand had been prolifically involved in, but when considering the fact that they had volunteered to serve caused public criticism of conflicts New Zealand would serve in the future, especially the Vietnam War.
The Spread of Communism largely effected the Pacific- Asia region, very much how Japanese aggression threatened an invasion of Australia and New Zealand during World War 2. It was seen as the utmost importance by the New Zealand government to help fend off the threat of communist invasion, especially of more insignificant countries located in the Pacific that have close ties with New Zealand, such as Samoa and Tonga that could easily be invaded by a militarist powerhouse such as China. In reality, the threat of invasion was minimal, but this was escalated as a result of the red threat, when the US and her allies knew very little about the Soviet Union.
The Korean War, while costly to human lives, had a dramatic (indirect) impact on the New Zealand Economy. During the years leading up to the conflict, the United States sought large quantities of wool to stockpile in preparation of an escalation in the Korean War. This sudden increase in demand saw an economic boom in the NZ wool industry, which led to prices tripling overnight.
The Korean War is often called 'the forgotten war' as a result of the negligible celebrations that occurred towards the end of the Korean War. All New Zealanders that served in the Korean war are remembered in the NZ roll of Honor, a roll preserved by the New Zealand government of every serviceman that had died as a result of a conflict.
A section of the exhibition 'scars on our heart' in the Auckland war memorial museum is dedicated to New Zealand combatants in the Korean War.
In ANZAC day celebrations, New Zealanders that were involved in the Korean war are remembered at official ceremonies.
All in all, 4700 New Zealand uniforms served during the seven year involvement in Korea. 45 of those lost their life; 33 in combat action. One member of the Kayforce was taken as a prisoner of war and held in North Korea for 18 months and returned after the armistice was signed in 1953.
The death toll of those who served was not as significant as the loss incurred as a result of previous conflicts New Zealand had been prolifically involved in, but when considering the fact that they had volunteered to serve caused public criticism of conflicts New Zealand would serve in the future, especially the Vietnam War.
The Spread of Communism largely effected the Pacific- Asia region, very much how Japanese aggression threatened an invasion of Australia and New Zealand during World War 2. It was seen as the utmost importance by the New Zealand government to help fend off the threat of communist invasion, especially of more insignificant countries located in the Pacific that have close ties with New Zealand, such as Samoa and Tonga that could easily be invaded by a militarist powerhouse such as China. In reality, the threat of invasion was minimal, but this was escalated as a result of the red threat, when the US and her allies knew very little about the Soviet Union.
The Korean War, while costly to human lives, had a dramatic (indirect) impact on the New Zealand Economy. During the years leading up to the conflict, the United States sought large quantities of wool to stockpile in preparation of an escalation in the Korean War. This sudden increase in demand saw an economic boom in the NZ wool industry, which led to prices tripling overnight.
The Korean War is often called 'the forgotten war' as a result of the negligible celebrations that occurred towards the end of the Korean War. All New Zealanders that served in the Korean war are remembered in the NZ roll of Honor, a roll preserved by the New Zealand government of every serviceman that had died as a result of a conflict.
A section of the exhibition 'scars on our heart' in the Auckland war memorial museum is dedicated to New Zealand combatants in the Korean War.
In ANZAC day celebrations, New Zealanders that were involved in the Korean war are remembered at official ceremonies.
Map of Asia - Pacific region. This shows the relatively short distance from communist forces from New Zealand. Should the South East Asia region embrace communism ideas, New Zealand could face pressure from Communist armies from the North.