After WW2, Korea was divided in half, for the communist regime in the north supported by
China and the Soviet Union and a republic in the south supported by the United States and
Western powers. The withdrawal of US troops in January of 1950 made South Korea
vulnerable to attack. On June 25 1950, 80,000 North-Korean troops surged across the border
at the 38th parallel, and in three days captured Seoul, the capital of South Korea.
The United Nations promptly responded with a resolution to a Korea. US General Douglas
MacArthur was appointed commander in chief for the UN forces. North Korean regulars
continue to Pussan the port abused on where Gen. Walker's 8 Army for delaying action to
defend the last major stronghold of South Korea. By August 5th UN troops in the obstacle
the knocked on river halted their advance. The North Koreans launched violent attacks
against the Pussan Perimeter, but by September 12, the offensive had exhausted itself in
ground to a halt. Three days later MacArthur launched a daring amphibious landing at
Inchon, they cut off the North Korean supply lines. It was the most successful military move
in his career. Seoul was retaken and the North Koreans were forced to retreat behind the
border. The UN demanded surrender determined to eliminate future aggression UN forces
crossed the 38th parallel on October 7th.
As MacArthur advanced steadily north, the Chinese warned of possible intervention,
beginning secret preparations for an offensive. Less than two weeks after crossing the
border, UN troops capture the North Korean capital Pyongyang. UN forces were moving
swiftly. As the end of October approached a South Korean division reaches the Yellow River,
the border of China. The Chinese responded quickly. By November 1st 180,000 troops have
moved south across the Yellow. MacArthur launched a counter-offensive which reached its
northernmost position on November 24th. The Chinese took Chosin Reservoir, and with their
superior numbers pushed the UN forces into retreat. December saw the Chinese advancing
steadily south crossing the 38th parallel to take Seoul once again. Gen. Ridgeway, a new
commander of the eighth army, began another offensive named “Meat-grinder” by frontline
troops against heavy opposition defensive finally halted the Chinese advance. By the end of
February, UN forces reached the outskirts of Seoul, recovering lost ground.
There are other struggles in the war. On April 11th 1951 President Harry S. Truman
dismissed Douglas MacArthur for challenging his authority and publicly criticizing his policies,
and replaced him with Gen. Ridgeway. Later, the same month, UN forces regained control
Seoul. The Chinese renewed the attack, putting an army of more than 450,000 against the
UN with heavy casualties. But UN forces under the new commander Gen. James Van Fleet
outmaneuver the Chinese and push the north. By late June a stalemate developed as bad a
line stabilize near the 38th parallel the original border that have been crossed a year earlier.
The war dragged on for another two years as negotiations for peace broke down repeatedly.
When the issue of the return of prisoners of war was finally resolved, offering a choice of
repatriation or defection, an armistice was concluded that ended the war on July 27th 1953.
Almost a million Chinese in over half a million North Koreans were killed or wounded in the
war with over 300,000 UN casualties. Both countries were devastated to this day, North and
South Korea still face each other over a demilitarized zone within uneasy truce.