1. The Korean War
The Korean War
Mr. Kelly's History Class

2. Background… Korea had been a unified country since the 7th century.
The Korean War
Background…
Korea had been a unified country since the 7th century.
During the 19th century, Imperial Japan began an occupation of the Korean Peninsula which lasted until the end of WW II.
At the close of World War II
Soviet Union occupies Korea north of 38th parallel
United States occupied south of 38th parallel
Mr. Kelly's History Class

3. Korea - 1948 The Soviets imposed communist government in North Korea
The Korean War
Korea
The Soviets imposed communist government in North Korea
Democratic People's Republic of Korea in 1948
Led by Kim Il Sung
Today Kim Jong Un
Capital in Pyongyang
U.S. imposed a nationalist/capitalist democracy on South Korea
Republic of Korea
Capital in Seoul
Mr. Kelly's History Class

4. The Korean War
Post-War Plans…
Initially, it was the intention of both sides to establish a stable and unified Korea in order to withdraw their military forces from the area.
U.S. cuts back its forces to about 500 troops by June 1949
Stalin concludes the U.S. will not fight to defend Korea
Mr. Kelly's History Class

5. The Korean War
Prelude to War
North Korean General Secretary Kim Il-Sung was intent on reuniting the peninsula under communism.
An offensive against the South was planned
On January 30, 1950, Stalin, via telegram, informed Kim Il Sung that he was willing to help Kim in his plan to unify Korea.
Mr. Kelly's History Class

6. Stage 1: North Korea attacks
The Korean War
Stage 1: North Korea attacks
1st Phase of Conflict
June 25, 1950
North Korea launches a surprise attack against South Korea.
By the night of June 28, Seoul (capital of South Korea) had fallen and the South Korean forces were in disarray.
South Korea appeals to the United Nations for help.
Mr. Kelly's History Class

7. United Nations Involvement
The Korean War
United Nations Involvement
The United Nations Security Council called for an immediate end to hostilities.
further demand that North Korea withdraw forces from South Korea
Ignored by North Korea
recommended that members of United Nations join forces to repel the attack.
Twenty-one nations agreed to contribute arms, money, medical supplies, and/or troops to rid South Korea of the Communist aggressor.
The Soviet Union could not veto the measures because it was boycotting the U.N. because it was protesting the presence of Nationalist China (Taiwan).
Mr. Kelly's History Class

8. The Korean War
United Nations Force
Gen. Douglas MacArthur was put in charge of the U.N. Command, which included combat and medical units from 22 nations.
The United States provided 50% of the ground forces (South Korea provided most of the remainder), 86% of the naval power, and 93% of the air power.
Mr. Kelly's History Class

9. Stage 2: Americans pushed to the Pusan Perimeter
The Korean War
Stage 2: Americans pushed to the Pusan Perimeter
Unable to slow the enemy advance, the Americans and South Koreans fought desperate delaying operations, buying time with blood as more American units were rushed to Korea.
By the end of July 1950, the North Koreans had pushed the U.N. forces to the southeast corner of the peninsula, where they dug in around the port of Pusan.
Mr. Kelly's History Class

10. The Korean War
Stage 3: Inchon
MacArthur completely changed the course of the war by ordering an amphibious( water) invasion at the port of Inchon, near Seoul.
The Americans quickly gained control of Inchon, recaptured Seoul within days, and cut the North Korean supply lines.
American and ROK forces broke out of the Pusan Perimeter and chased the retreating enemy north.
Mr. Kelly's History Class

11. Stage 4: Approaching the Yalu
The Korean War
Stage 4: Approaching the Yalu
Despite warnings from the Chinese that "American intrusion into North Korea would encounter Chinese resistance," MacArthur's forces continued to push north.
November, 1950, the Chinese army pushed the U.N. forces back with their sheer numbers.
Chinese outnumbered U.N. forces 10-1.
Mr. Kelly's History Class

12. Stage 5: An entirely new war
The Korean War
Stage 5: An entirely new war
Roughly 180,000 Chinese troops shattered the right flank of the US Eighth Army in the west, while 120,000 others threatened to destroy the X Corps near the Chosin Reservoir.
On November 28, a shaken MacArthur informed the Joint Chiefs, "We face an entirely new war."
Mr. Kelly's History Class

13. The Korean War
Stage 6: Stalemate
Beginning January 15, Ridgway led the U.N. in a slow advance northward, in what his troops began to call the "meatgrinder."
Inflicting heavy casualties on the Chinese and North Koreans, the U.N. re-recaptured Seoul.
In the meantime, General MacArthur had been steadily pushing Washington to remove the restrictions on his forces.
Not only did Truman decline for fear of widening the war, but he fired MacArthur, who had been publicly challenging him for months, for insubordination on April 11.
Mr. Kelly's History Class

14. The Korean War
Ceasefire Agreement
The Korean War end, when an armistice was signed on July 27, 1953.
The armistice was only ever intended as a temporary measure and provided for:
A suspension of open hostilities
A fixed demarcation line with a four kilometer (2.4 mile) buffer zone - the so-called demilitarization zone
SEE next slide
A mechanism for the transfer of prisoners of war.
Mr. Kelly's History Class

15. The Korean War
Korean War Casualties
Mr. Kelly's History Class