The Korean War
Background
1945—Japan defeated in WWII
Japan annexed Korea in 1905
Both US and USSR want an
independent Korea
Both nations send troops to accept the
Japanese surrender
Korean Occupation
38th Parallel
Soviets occupied the
North
US occupied the
South
Korean Occupation
This occupation would last only until
elections could be held…
BUT cold war rivalries permanently divide
Korea
During the Japanese occupation—
Nationalist groups split
Communist (USSR backs)
Non-Communist (US backs)
Korea Divided
1948 Korea permanently split
North—Democratic People’s Republic of
Korea—Communist
South—Republic of Korea—Non-
communist
Conflict
Clashes between
troops along the
38th Parallel
1950—N. Korea
invades S. Korea in
an attempt to
reunite by force
S Koreans retreat—
poorly equipped and
surprised!
The Conflict Continues
UN and US see N. Korean invasion as a
“world-wide” communist threat
China was communist…Now Korea…Who
Next?
USSR armed and trained N. Koreans
UN votes to send troops to S. Korea
General Douglas MacArthur commander of
UN and S. Korean forces
The Korean War
15 nations send
troops BUT US and
S. Korean soldiers
do most of the
fighting
Fighting occurred in
North and in
South—back and
forth over the 38th
Korean War
When UN forces
landed at Inchon in
N. Korea, Chinese
troops crossed the
border to help
Pushed the US/S.
Korean forces back
The Aftermath
Stalemate
1953—Armistice
Korea divided at the
38th—Demilitarized
Zone (DMZ) along
both sides
The Aftermath
4 million died
Huge number of refugees
Factories and Farms destroyed
Heavy bombing left most cities in ruin
Families split
TODAY??