Korean War
1950-1953
The Korean War, often called "The
Forgotten War," was a brutal and complex
conflict that shaped the modern
geopolitical landscape. It was the first
major armed conflict of the Cold War,
pitting communist North Korea, backed by
China and the Soviet Union, against
capitalist South Korea, supported by the
United States and the United Nations. The
war left millions dead, devastated the
Korean Peninsula, and cemented the
Causes of the War
•Division of Korea:
•Following Japan's defeat in World War II, the Korean Peninsula was divided
along the 38th parallel. The Soviet Union occupied the north, and the United
States occupied the south.
•This division created two distinct political entities with opposing ideologies: a
communist regime in the north and a U.S.-backed, anti-communist regime in the
south.
•Ideological Conflict:
•The Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union played a
significant role.
•Both superpowers sought to expand their spheres of influence, and the Korean
Peninsula became a battleground for this ideological struggle.
•North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union and later China, aimed to unify the
peninsula under communist rule.
•South Korea, supported by the United States and the United Nations, sought to
maintain its anti-communist government.
The Korean War begins
When Korea was liberated from Japanese control at the end of the Second
World War, the United States and the Soviet Union agreed temporarily to
divide Korea at the 38th parallel of latitude north of the equator. This
division resulted in the formation of two countries: communist North
Korea (supported by the Soviets) and South Korea (supported by the
United States). Five years after the country’s partition, the communist
leader of North Korea, Kim Il Sung, decided to attempt to reunify Korea
under his control. On June 25, 1950, Kim launched a surprise invasion of
South Korea.
Believing that the Soviet Union had backed the invasion, United States
President Harry Truman and his advisers followed through on their policy
of containment, refusing to allow communism to spread anywhere in the
world. Within two days of the invasion, the United States had rallied the
United Nations Security Council to declare support for South Korea. An
American-led UN coalition deployed to South Korea. By August, North
Korean forces had swept across almost all of South Korea; American
forces held only a small defensive perimeter in the country’s southeast,
near Busan. In September, however, under the command of General
Douglas MacArthur, the United States launched a bold counter-offensive
that included a daring amphibious landing in territory held by North
Korean forces at Inchon, on South Korea’s western coast. Soon, US forces
drove the North Koreans back to the border at the 38th parallel.
Beyond the 38th parallel
The Truman administration then made the decision to
proceed across the 38th parallel into North Korea. But in
late November 1950, as American forces neared the
Chinese border, leaders in communist China (fearful that
the United States might invade) sent tens of thousands of
Chinese soldiers streaming into North Korea and drove the
American and UN forces southward, back across the 38th
parallel.
By spring 1951 the Americans had pushed to the 38th
parallel once again. That same spring President Truman
fired General MacArthur when MacArthur publicly
challenged the administration’s strategy. The next two
years saw periods of fierce fighting, but the border held. In
1953, an armistice established a status quo
antebellum border near the border that had originally
divided North and South Korea.
Weapons Used in the
War
Infantry Weapons
M1 Garand Rifle – Standard U.S. service rifle.
M1 Carbine – Lighter alternative for
paratroopers and officers.
PPSh-41 – Soviet submachine gun, widely used by
North Korean and Chinese forces.
Tanks & Armored Vehicles
T-34/85 Tank – Soviet-made, heavily used by
North Korean forces.
M4 Sherman Tank – U.S. tank, used in
counteroffensives.
M26 Pershing Tank – More advanced U.S. tank
used in later battles.
Consequences and Legacy
Human and Economic Cost
Over 2.5 million deaths, including military and civilians.
Entire cities and villages were destroyed, especially in North Korea.
Geopolitical Impact
The war intensified the Cold War, increasing tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
The U.S. strengthened military alliances, leading to the formation of SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty
Organization).
China’s role in the war established it as a major communist power.
The Korean Peninsula Today
The DMZ remains one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world.
North Korea became increasingly isolated, focusing on military buildup and nuclear weapons.
