The Korean War

Japan annexed Korea in 1910 and ruled it until August of 1945. When World War II ended Japanese troops north of the 38th parallel surrendered to the soviets and Korea was divided into two nations. The Democratic People's republic of Korea commonly known as North Korea was a communist nation ruled by Kim II Sung. The Republic of Korea commonly known as South Korea was a democratic nation ruled by Syngman Rhee.

After World War II the United States began to decrease the number of armed forces in South Korea, as a result North Korea took the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on South Korea on June 6, 1950. This and the events that followed are known as the Korean War.

North Korea penetrated into South Korea. South Korea called upon the UN to stop the invasion. The vote in the UN to support South Korea passed. South Korea received more aid when, on June 27, President Truman of the United States ordered troops in Japan to support the South Koreans. He also sent a US fleet into the waters between Taiwan and China.

At first North Korea seemed unstoppable capturing Seoul, the South Korean capital. After a month of combat North Korea forced the UN and South Korean troops into a defensive zone. At this point General MacArthur decided that a counter attack was necessary and launched a surprise landing behind enemy lines while other troops moved north. This resulted in the surrender of about half of the North Korean Troops and the fleeing of the rest back across the 38th parallel.

The Chinese fought back, however, joining the war on the North Korean side. At this point the Korean War had become a war between China and the US. Chinese forces drove the UN South and in January of 1951 all UN and South Korean troops had been pushed out of North Korea. Chinese captured the South Korean capital of Seoul. This was followed by two years of fighting for strategic positions in which no important advancements were made.

In 1951 MacArthur called for an extension of the war into China. When Truman rejected this proposal MacArthur tried to go over Truman's head and was eventually fired.

On June 23, 1951 the Soviet Union suggested a cease fire. Shortly after truce talks began and an agreement was made that the cease fire line would be the existing battle line and that a demilitarized zone would be established. In July of 1953 an armistice was signed that ended the war in a stalemate.

-Lisa