THE KOREAN WAR The Hot War

Japan lost control of this peninsula after their defeat in WWII. The 38th Parallel – Separated Soviet control in North Korea from American control in the South North Korea set up a government called “Peoples’ Republic of Korea” South Korea set up a government called “Republic of Korea”

The USA and the USSR left as North and South Korea each claimed absolute rule over both sections of the divided country June 25, 1950 – North Korea invades South Korea North is the aggressor supported by Soviets June 27th – Truman pledges aid to South Korea

Military action pushes the front line back and forth between the two powerful sides, and eventually reaches a stalemate at the 38th Parallel UN forces are pushed by the North Koreans south to Pusan MacArthur counter-attacks and drives North Korea all the way north to the Yalu River UN forces are then surprised by a huge force of Chinese Communists and driven back to the 38th Parallel MacArthur wants to bomb China and end the stalemate –he goes to Congress when Truman orders him not to do so –MacArthur is removed by Truman as commander of UN forces –MacArthur remarks, “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.”

Truman said that the war was to remain a “police action” and called Korea a “limited war with limited objectives.” The US lost 33,000 soldiers and 100,000 were wounded in this “police action” to prevent the spread of communism