2. Background… Korea had been a unified country since the 7th century. During the 19 th 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

3. Korea - 1948 The Soviets imposed communist government in North Korea –Democratic People's Republic of Korea in 1948 –Led by Kim Il Sung –Capitail in Pyongyang U.S. imposed a nationalist/capitalist democracy on South Korea –Republic of Korea –Led by Syngman Rhee –Capital in Seoul

4. 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

5. 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.

6. Stage 1: North Korea attacks 1 st 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Stage 3: Inchon MacArthur completely changed the course of the war by ordering an amphibious 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.

11. 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, stormed into North Korea and pushed the U.N. forces back with their sheer numbers.

12. 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."

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. Korean War Casualties