The Korean War, 1950
“Seoul-ja” Boy
The end of WW2 had divided Korea into two sides, a communist northern half and an American occupied south half.
July 31st, 1953
Immediately following the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and after the surrender of Japan in 1945, Soviet troops poured into Korea. Appalled by this, the US responded by also moving troops into Korea to prevent the Soviets from gaining another Satellite state. The line that would separate the Soviet controlled sector from the American controlled sector was declared the 38th parallel by Dean Rusk, a colonel in the army. General Douglas MacArthur announced the splitting of into two occupation zones, and Stalin accepted.
While the USSR and US moved in, an association of Korean Nationalists formed a government known as the KPR (Korean People’s Republic). As time passed, this government became progressively communist and extremely popular among the people. Although the US had not recognized the KPR, the Soviets had, and Korean guerrilla leader, Kim Il-Sung, became known as the pro-Soviet leader of the KPR. Meanwhile in South Korea, a detrimental strategy of the American Military Government led to high prices and famine, convincing Congress and Joint Chief of Staff that the US should be removed from Korea.
By 1948, the opposing governments were established: The Republic of Korea (South) and the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea (North). Tensions between the two quickly heightened.
On June 25th, 1950, after multiple failed attempts to create uprisings in South Korea, communist North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel, invading South Korea. As Kim Il-Sung’s Soviet supported army overran South Korea, the US, interpreting the invasion as an act of aggression, hurried to aid South Korea, similar to when they had funded and provided material for the communist White Army during the Russian Civil War. Soon, President Truman had authorized General Douglas MacArthur as supreme commander and for him to use whatever force
The end of WW2 had divided Korea into two sides, a communist northern half and an American occupied south half.
July 31st, 1953
Immediately following the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and after the surrender of Japan in 1945, Soviet troops poured into Korea. Appalled by this, the US responded by also moving troops into Korea to prevent the Soviets from gaining another Satellite state. The line that would separate the Soviet controlled sector from the American controlled sector was declared the 38th parallel by Dean Rusk, a colonel in the army. General Douglas MacArthur announced the splitting of into two occupation zones, and Stalin accepted.
While the USSR and US moved in, an association of Korean Nationalists formed a government known as the KPR (Korean People’s Republic). As time passed, this government became progressively communist and extremely popular among the people. Although the US had not recognized the KPR, the Soviets had, and Korean guerrilla leader, Kim Il-Sung, became known as the pro-Soviet leader of the KPR. Meanwhile in South Korea, a detrimental strategy of the American Military Government led to high prices and famine, convincing Congress and Joint Chief of Staff that the US should be removed from Korea.
By 1948, the opposing governments were established: The Republic of Korea (South) and the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea (North). Tensions between the two quickly heightened.
On June 25th, 1950, after multiple failed attempts to create uprisings in South Korea, communist North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel, invading South Korea. As Kim Il-Sung’s Soviet supported army overran South Korea, the US, interpreting the invasion as an act of aggression, hurried to aid South Korea, similar to when they had funded and provided material for the communist White Army during the Russian Civil War. Soon, President Truman had authorized General Douglas MacArthur as supreme commander and for him to use whatever force