why is the vietnam war called the hot battle of the cold war

While most historians conclude that the war allowed the ROK to achieve these objectives, some regard its role as akin to that of a ‘mercenary’, fighting an imperialistic war on behalf of the USA. It would ‘enhance the international prestige of the Korean people by demonstrating their traditional chivalrous spirit’ and express their gratitude to nations which had supported their own struggle against communism.įinally, the magazine alluded to what many have since come to regard as the most important motives for the ROK’s intervention in Vietnam: the calculation that it would secure aid to modernise its economy and ensure America’s continuing commitment to its defence. As one semi-official magazine put it, a ‘Communist take-over of Vietnam would be a direct threat to the security of the Republic of Korea.’ However, the same publication identified other reasons for the Republic’s involvement. One of the reasons for this was that the ROK was in the front-line of a geopolitical struggle between capitalism and communism. But the South Korean deployment was by far the largest apart from that of the United States of America and was disproportionate to the country’s population, not to mention its prosperity. Civilian assistance for non-communist South Vietnam was provided by an even greater number of nations, including those of non-combatants such as the United Kingdom. The ROK was by no means unique in this respect, as United States forces also received military aid from Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and Thailand.

Between 19, the Republic of Korea (ROK) sent over 300 000 soldiers and tens of thousands of civilians to Vietnam in support of the American-led war against communism.

Why is the vietnam war called the hot battle of the cold war