The Korean War After World War II, USSR (communists) occupied North Korea, and USA controlled South Korea (democratic). Kim Il Sung was the leader of communist North Korea. He thought he had the right to control the democratic South Korea, and turn the whole of Korea into a communist state. On 25th June 1950, the North Korean army invaded South Korea, crossing the border along the 38° north parallel (of latitude). Within 2 months, it had captured most of South Korea including the capital, Seoul.

The War US President Truman reacted rapidly by promising to send US military. Within 3 months of the start of the war, US troops under General MacArthur landed at Inchon and begun to drive the North Koreans back, liberating Seoul in the process. The United Nations Security Council also supported South Korea by sending troops from Britain, France and Australia. By late October, the UN forces had overrun the North Korean army and occupied almost all of Korea.

Support for North Korea USSR and China had communist governments and so supported North Korea. Neither managed to change the UN decision of helping the South. The USSR sent great deal of military equipment. China sent huge amounts of ‘volunteers’ to help the North Korean Army. Towards the end of 1950, over 500,000 Chinese soldiers had helped North Korea drive the UN troops back to Seoul and beyond. A series of attacks by both sides in early 1951 left them facing each other at the 38th Parallel.

Results Negotiations (talks) of a truce began in June 1951, although fighting continued at border. Stalin happy with this as it drained US resources, money, soldiers etc. Most the casualties were innocent civilians. Nearly 3 million died. A ceasefire was agreed in July 1953. A demilitarised zone (DMZ) was created along the pre-war border at the 38th parallel. This is an area from which troops are forbidden. Although great rivals the USSR and USA did not DIRECTLY go to war with each other. North Korea remained communist under Kim Il Sung. The South remained strongly pro-American although not fully democratic. This was seen as a successful example of ‘containment’. It proved that the Cold War was now no longer confined to Europe. It showed that the USA was determined to prevent the spread of communism. The South became one of the most successful industrial nations of Asia. Seoul hosted an amazing Olympic Games in 1988. The Korean War had never brought the world’s two Superpowers, the USA and USSR into direct opposition on the battlefield. It did however widen the rift between the communists and democratic nations and played a role in hardening the Cold War attitudes further.