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Period: to
1945-1955
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Potsdam Conference
Soviets and Americans agree to a temporarily divided Korea with the boundary between North and South lying on the 38th parallel. The Americans controlled the South, the Soviets controlled the North. Conference Runs from: 17 July to 2 August -
The Republic of Korea is formed
Following elections, Syngman Rhee is voted in as president in the South. Capital: Seoul -
Democratic People's Republic of Korea is formed
Kim Il Sung sets up a communist government in North Korea. Capital: Pyongyang -
North Korea attacks South Korea
South Korean forces were considerable weaker and outnumbered because unlike the North recieving aid from the Soviet Union, the South did not recieve aid from the United States (due to its worry that aid would embolden Rhee to attack North Korea). The South Korean troops retreat to the Pusan pocket by September 1950. -
The Americans Refer the matter of the invasion to the UN Securitu Council
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USA commits ground troops to fight
Truman, not waiting for the UN security council to pass a resolution sends troops into South Korea -
UN Security Council declares North Korea is the agressor
An international military coalition led by the USA under General Douglas MacArthur's control is set up to defend South Korea. -
Inchon Landing
The UN coalition force lands in Korea in Inchon, cutting off supplies to the North Korean army forcing a retreat. With the UN's support, Truman went beyond his policy of containment of communism and UN troops soon captured two thirds of the country. -
China sends in small numbers of troops to assist North Korea
Meant as a warning to the USA troops, the Chinese troops quickly retreated. General MacArthur ignored this warning of a future larger intervenment by China. -
260,000 Chinese troops clash with UN forces
UN forces are forced into one of modern military history's longest retreates away from the Chinese border. -
Armistice Signed
An armistice was finally agreed despite being bogged down over how to deal with POWs, many of who were ordinary citizens wrongly classifies as such.
