Korean war
Overview:
The Korean War was fought between capitalist South Korea and the communist North Korea. It is considered the first major conflict of the Cold War. The Korean War lasted from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953. After World War II, the Korean Peninsula, which had previously been part of Japan, was divided among the Soviet Union and the United States at the 38th parallel. The northern half was given to the Soviet Union and formed North Korea under the leadership of Kim Il-sung, while the southern half was given to the United States and formed South Korea under the leadership of Syngman Rhee. On June 25, 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea. The invasion ended in the United Nations, mostly comprised of the U.S. forces, assisting South Korea who now only occupied a small part of the southern tip of Korea. At first the United Nations was trying to protect South Korea, but President Eisenhower went on the offensive and decided the war was now about liberating North Korea from communism. General Douglas MacArthur led the U.N. troops in the Battle of Inchon, which led to the retaken control of the city of Seoul as well as moving South Korea back up to the 38th parallel. General MacArthur pushed the North Koreans all the way up to the northern border of Korea which angered China and provoked them to enter the war. President Truman replaced MacArthur with Ridgway who fortified the 38th parallel where the rest of the war would be fought. On July 7, 1953 a treaty was signed and the war was ended. The border between North and South Korea would remain at the 38th parallel and a two mile demilitarized zone was put between both countries in order to act as a buffer.
Impact:
Similar to the U.S. and Soviet involvement in the Chinese Civil War, both nations contributed financially and militarily to the Korean War. North Korea was supported by the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China, who both were in support of communism, South Korea was supported by the United States, Great Britain, and United Nations who, as always, where fighting the spread of communism. The U.S. also supplied a large amount of military forces that fought with the United Nations who sided with the South Korean forces.
The Korean War was fought between capitalist South Korea and the communist North Korea. It is considered the first major conflict of the Cold War. The Korean War lasted from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953. After World War II, the Korean Peninsula, which had previously been part of Japan, was divided among the Soviet Union and the United States at the 38th parallel. The northern half was given to the Soviet Union and formed North Korea under the leadership of Kim Il-sung, while the southern half was given to the United States and formed South Korea under the leadership of Syngman Rhee. On June 25, 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea. The invasion ended in the United Nations, mostly comprised of the U.S. forces, assisting South Korea who now only occupied a small part of the southern tip of Korea. At first the United Nations was trying to protect South Korea, but President Eisenhower went on the offensive and decided the war was now about liberating North Korea from communism. General Douglas MacArthur led the U.N. troops in the Battle of Inchon, which led to the retaken control of the city of Seoul as well as moving South Korea back up to the 38th parallel. General MacArthur pushed the North Koreans all the way up to the northern border of Korea which angered China and provoked them to enter the war. President Truman replaced MacArthur with Ridgway who fortified the 38th parallel where the rest of the war would be fought. On July 7, 1953 a treaty was signed and the war was ended. The border between North and South Korea would remain at the 38th parallel and a two mile demilitarized zone was put between both countries in order to act as a buffer.
Impact:
Similar to the U.S. and Soviet involvement in the Chinese Civil War, both nations contributed financially and militarily to the Korean War. North Korea was supported by the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China, who both were in support of communism, South Korea was supported by the United States, Great Britain, and United Nations who, as always, where fighting the spread of communism. The U.S. also supplied a large amount of military forces that fought with the United Nations who sided with the South Korean forces.