Korea - The Forgotton War

10 Important Things Everyone Should Know About the Korean War:

1. There was conflict between Communist and non-Communist forces in Korea from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953.
2. At the end of World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel into Soviet (North Korean) and U.S. (South Korean) zones of occupation.
3. In 1948 rival governments were established: The Republic of Korea was proclaimed in the South and the People's Democratic Republic of Korea in the North.
4. On June 25, 1950, North Korean forces invaded South Korea. The United Nations quickly said the invasion was an act of aggression, demanded that North Korean troops should be out of the South, and called upon its members to aid South Korea.
5. On June 27, President Truman authorized the use of American land, sea, and air forces in Korea. A week later, the United Nations placed the forces of 15 other member nations under U.S. command, and Truman appointed Gen. Douglas MacArthur commander.
6. The first couple of weeks, North Korea was invading the South quickly and they faced little resistence.
7. By Sept. 10 they had driven the South Korean army and a small American force to the southeast tip of Korea. A counteroffensive began on Sept. 15, when UN forces made a landing on the west coast. North Korean forces fell back and MacArthur received orders to pursue them into North Korea.
8. On Oct. 19, the North Korean capital was captured.
9. China saw the movement of UN forces in North Korea as a threat to China's security. Chinese leaders warned them that if they advanced any further, it would force them to enter the war. On November 25, 1950, Chinese Communist troops attacked North Korea.
10. The more the war continued, the more it becomes unpopular. In July 1951, Truman accepted a Soviet suggestion of truce. The "talks" dragged on for two years. Truman decided not to run again during the election and Dwight D. Eisenhower is the chosen to be the president. He agreed to a compromise to end the war. A cease-fire ended the war in 1953. Communism had been contained in Korea. Many Americans felt frustrate by the indecisve war.