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Japanese rule
The Empire of Japan occupied the Korean empire. Korean nationalists fled the country, and founded the Provisional Korean Government in 1919. It was led by Syngman Rhee. Korea under Japanese rule was part of the Empire of Japan as an industrialized colony. -
Soviet invasion of Manchuria
The USSR declared war on Japan on August 9, 1945. By the 10th of August, the Red Army occupied the northern part of the Korean peninsula and halted at the 38th parallel for three weeks for the arrival of US forces at the South. -
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Communists fought against the Chinese Nationalists because the Communists wanted power in Manchuria. The Communists had many North Koreans help in the war, and the nationalists recieved help from the South Koreans. -
Division of Korea
At the Potsdam conference, the Allies decided to divide Korea in half, North and South. The Korean citizens were never told of the decision as it happened. -
The conflict begins
the North Korean Army crossed the 38th parallel border and invaded South Korea. As a counter attack, the south Korean army entered the 38th parallel behind artillery fire on June 25, 1950. -
United Nations security counsil resolutions
On June 25, the United Nations Security Council condemned the North Korean invasion of the Republic of Korea. On June 27, the security counsil made a resolution recomending that member states should avoid giving military assistance to Korea. -
United Nations response
There were many US forces in Japan under General MacArthurs command. They were ready to fight the North Koreans. On June 24, president Truman was informed that North Korea had invaded South Korea. The allies became involved in the war of Korea. -
Escalation
the US Army withstood KPA attacks to take over the area of the Naktong Bulge. The United States Air Force interrupted KPA with 40 daily ground support backup that destroyed 32 bridges, and it halted most daytime road and rail traffic. -
Battle of Inchon
The KPA were undermanned and poorly supplied, and they lacked naval and air support. General MacArthur recomended an amphibious landing at Inchon which was over 100 miles behind enemy lines. -
UN forces cross partition line
On September 27, MacArthur received the top secret National Security letter from Truman reminding him that operations north of the 38th parallel were authorized only if they were necessarily needed. -
China intervines
Mao Zedong redesignated the PLA North East Frontier Force as the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, and they were suppost to fight to resist America and aid Korea. -
fighting around the 38th parallel
Fighting around the 38th parallel went from around January of 1951 to June of 1951. General MacArthur considered using nuclear weapons to end the fight between the north and the south Korean army.
