Korean War

War in Korea Soviets supplied the North Koreans with weapons and money-June 25, 1950 North Koreans invaded the South The Unites States following its policy of containment vowed to protect the south from the spread of Communism. South Korea asked the UN to intervene. The UN security council voted to protect SK- USSR was absent in protest of admittance of Nationalist China. By 1950 North Korea controlled the entire peninsula Douglas MacArthur who commanded the UN forces launched a surprise attack-they pushed the North Koreans back across the 38 parallel October 1950 China sent 300,000 to help North Koreans push South Korea back and captured the capital of Seoul

MacArthur was convinced that extending a war against China was the only way to win-Truman disagreed. MacArthur was fired because of his harsh criticism of Truman From South Korea pushed the North Koreans back to the 38 parallel and a cease fire was signed-4 million soldiers and civilians had died Aftermath Korea remained divided In the Communist North Kim Ill Sung established collective farms, heavy industry, and a large military Kim Ill Jung his son and successor developed nuclear power, and money spent on the military has caused economic problems South Korea supported largely by US aid has prospered- in 1987 they developed a Democratic Constitution