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Korea Splitting Up
In 1910, Japan put Korea under their rule, and they were still controlling Korea when WW2 ended. Once Japan surrendered, the US and USSR agreed to split Korea into two occupation zones with the USSR taking North Korea, and the US taking the south. -
Reason of War
The Cold War was probably the biggest reason for the war. The existing relationships with the US and China were already bad, and when China turned into a Communist in 1949, the current president of the time, President Truman, was worried that other countries may turn into a Communist. -
Korean War Began
The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when North Korea crossed the 38th parallel (the border between both South and North Korea) with 75,000 soldiers. The North Koreans strategically displaced their army in several points throughout the parallel. This action was the first of the Cold War. -
U.S. and the Allies Intervenes
A few days after the war took place, America and the allies decide to intervene in fear of the worst, which would be other communist parties like China and Russia to help North Korea, this would cause WW3, which wasn't something they wanted. -
Battle of Inchon
The Battle Of Inchon started when the United Nations (UN) secured the city of Inchon successfully, and subsequently, they recaptured Seoul. This led to North Korea being pushed back north. -
China Joins
On October 1st of 1950, China joined on behalf of North Korea. China's army claimed and won several important battles and they pushed U.S. and South Koreans back to the 38th parallel. -
US Reaches Capital of North Korea
The Allies and South Korea push towards Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. -
Home By Christmas
On November 24th, 1950, General MacArthur of the U.S. initiated a bold attack by the name of "Home By Christmas," for the goal was to be back home by Christmas time. The attack was near the Yalu River, which is on the border of North Korea and northeast China. Unfortunately, the attack failed since they were ambushed by 180,000 Chinese soldiers -
Recapture of Seoul
The Chinese recaptured Seoul on January 4, 1951. This would be the third time this happened. -
Peace Talk
With the Korean War settling into a bloody stalemate, the United Nations tries to negotiate an end to the conflict. The first peace talks between American, Chinese, North Korean, and South Korean negotiators will begin in August 1951 but will drag on for nearly two years. More than half of the 36,000 American soldiers killed in the Korean War will lose their lives after the beginning of the peace talks. -
Recapture of Seoul... again
On March 14, Seoul got recaptured by the UN, this would be the 4th time that Seoul would be switched hands between the allies and North Korea. The city is destroyed and its population has reduced to a mere fraction of its original population. -
General Macarthur
On April of 1951, General Macarthur was relieved from duty, since he disagreed with President Truman. President Truman wanted to keep the war to a limited war, which is a war that limits the use of nuclear weapons. General Macarthur disagreed, and so he was fired from his work for the Korean War. -
Kaesong Peace Talk begins
Peace talks began in Kaesong, however, nothing really was accomplished during the rounds of talks as there was a bombing in Kaesong by the UN. Nothing was settled until the war ended 2 years later. -
More talks in Panmunjom
After the bombing of Kaesong, talks were moved to Panmunjom. These talks were moving slowly because of the issue of the new border between North and South Korea. -
Eisenhower elected
Eisenhower won the 1952 election by a landslide of 34 million votes. He got this many votes because of his campaign promise to making an honorable and peaceful truce in Korea while bringing back troops back home. -
Battle of Pork Chop Hill
The battle was similar to a previous attack where the Americans won, but this time a lot more soldiers were involved. The American 7th division was attacked by Chinese in brutal melee combat in trenches. -
Pork Chop Hill battle end
The battle ended with the 7th division and the US corps retreating. However, the Chinese faced the most casualties even though they were the ones who fought first. -
Operation Big Switch
Operation Big Switch was a mass exchange of POWs ( prisoners of war ) between the two sides. This was a formal end to the hostilities that both sides had, and it was a step towards a better relationship between the two sides. -
Casualties
Deaths in the U.S - approximately 36,000
Wounded in the U.S - 103,000 Deaths and missing :
South Korea - 217,000 from military, 1 million in civilians
North Korea - 400,000 from military, 600,000 in civilians
China - 600,000 military -
Cost of Korean War
Cost of the Korean War for the United States was 67 billion dollars. -
Interesting Fact
Since there was no peace treaty to end the war, the Korean War is still going on even though the initial problem has been resolved.
