Korean War

the war begin

Jun 25, 1950

Some 75,000 soldiers from the North Korean People’s Army poured across the 38th parallel, the boundary between the Soviet-backed Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the north and the pro-Western Republic of Korea to the south.

US gets invovled

Jun 27, 1950

Truman orders air and naval support for South Korea & calls for UN intervention

Seoul

Jun 28, 1950

North Korean forces capture Seoul.

Invasion

Sep 15, 1950

U.S. troops invade at Inchon. In surprise landing behind enemy lines, US forces push North Korean army back north of the 38th parallel

taking the capitol

Oct 19, 1950

Pyongyang falls to UN forces. North Korean capital now in UN control.

China gets involved

Nov 4, 1950

Chinese divisions enter fighting. With increased opposition, UN offensive stalls and then collapses. Chinese troops push UN forces back across 38th parallel and capture Southern capital of Seoul.

Bye MacArthur

Apr 11, 1951

Truman relieves MacArthur of command. Following several warnings about insubordination, Truman angers public (69% support MacArthur) by firing the US commander.

small talk

Jul 1, 1951

Negotiations begin at Panmunjon. Talks drag on until 1953 and war is settled with the establishment of a DMZ (demilitarized zone) on each side of the 38th parallel.

airstrikes

Jul 23, 1952

Massive airstrikes against North Korea's hydroelectric power grid cause an almost complete blackout for more than two weeks

the end

Jul 27, 1953

This is the end of the war. In all, some 5 million soldiers and civilians lost their lives during the war. The Korean peninsula is still divided today.