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The Korean War June 25th, 1950 - July 27th, 1953. After WWII Korea was divided in half at the 38 th parallel The USSR controlled the Northern half, which was communist, it’s leader was Kim Il Sung. The Americans established a Democratic government (R.O.K) in the South, led by Syngman Rhee.
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After WWII Korea was divided in half at the 38th parallel • The USSR controlled the Northern half, which was communist, it’s leader was Kim Il Sung. • The Americans established a Democratic government (R.O.K) in the South, led by Syngman Rhee.
The North and South fight almost from the beginning. • The North has been given weapons from the Soviets and prepares to invade the South, which has an army with 2-3 times less men and weapons. • -In the predawn hours of Sunday, June 25, 1950, the North Korean forces invade the South, taking them by surprise.
The US and the UN came to the aid of the South Koreans in an effort to squash the Soviet advance. • The UN calls an emergency session, which the Soviets abruptly leave. The UN decide to send troops for a “police action”
The North Koreans quickly crushed South Korean defenses at the 38th parallel. • - South Korea's army was simply overwhelmed. The capital of Seoul fell in three days.
The suburbs of Seoul, destroyed by artillery and air strikes. Photo taken 08/20/1951.
American General MacArthur felt that the North Koreans were vulnerable to an amphibious envelopment. • A landing at Inch'on, the Yellow Sea port just twenty-five miles west of Seoul, would cut North Korean supply routes.
-The assault on Inch'on on 15 September 1950 encountered light resistance and UN forces steadily pushed inland. -This was a huge confidence builder for the forces and particularly MacArthur.
-The course of the war changed abruptly, and within weeks much of North Korea was taken by United States and South Korean forces. -In October, the North Korean capital of Pyongyang was captured and ROK troops reached the Yalu River.
-MacArthur ordered an advance to the northern Korean border with China at the Yalu River. -Victory seemed at hand, but within 24 hours the situation suddenly changed. -When Kim's regime was nearly dead, the Soviet Union did very little to save it -- China picked up the pieces.
The Chinese Army had 850,000 troops north of the Yalu River. • The UN force's advance had continued despite warnings of a massive Chinese intervention. • Mao Tse Tung feared that the Allies would not stop in Korea, but would continue across the Yalu River into China and attempt to overthrow communism in mainland China.
-MacArthur had Truman’s consent to take over all of North Korea. • However, the President did not agree to his suggestions of bombing China, including use of the atomic bomb. • After MacArthur publicly advocated widening the war, Truman fired him.
In November 1952 Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected President on the campaign pledge to "go to Korea."
President-elect Eisenhower during his visit to the Korea, December 4, 1952
Armistice July 1953 between North Korea, South Korea, the UN, and the Chinese government. • The war lasted just over three years, and destroyed much of the Korean peninsula and the world around it. • Casualities were high, including 180,000 South Korean and UN troops and nearly 37,000 Americans • Number of communist deaths is unknown
July 27, 1953: Peace Treaty signed at Panmunjom • 38th parallel reset as boundary between communist North and anti-communist South. • Cold War tensions continue unabated. • Gen. Mark W. Clark says he has "the unenviable distinction of being the first US Army commander to sign an armistice without victory."