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Japanese occupation of Korea begins
This was a deeply ambivalent experience for Koreans. For the first ten years Japan ruled directly through the military and any Korean dissent was crushed. By the time of the Japanese surrender, Korea was the second-most industrialized nation is Asia after Japan. -
"Chinese Winter Offensive"
The Chinese forces lauched their first major counter- offensive on multiple fronts. This offensive failed to achieve its original objectives. The Japanese forces did not expect the chinese to be able to launch an offensive operation on such a large scale. -
WWII Ends
After Germany had surrendered, all the attention was then on Japan. The Japanese resistance crumbled therefore causing them to surrender as well. Within minutes of Truman's declaration, the nation went wild. -
Korea is divided at the 38th parallel by the US and Soviet Union
This was the allied victory that had ended Japan's occupation of thirty-five in Korea. The US wanted to create a US occupation zone, so the US government officials drew an evenly divided line between North and South. This is the date when the became official. -
UN/South Korean troops cross the border into North Korea
South Korean army bases came under fire without warning. North Korean troops then invaded with six infantry divisions. The four south Korean divisions were quickly overwhelmed. -
Korean war begins/North Korean troops attack South Korea
Armed forces from communist North Korea set off the Korean war by smashing into South Korea. The U.S. quickly defended South Korea and fought a very frustrating, 3-year war. -
Battle of Pusan Perimeter
This was a long and extensive military engagement between the UN forces and the communist army of North Korea. The Pusan Perimeter was the furthest reach of this communist invasion. After waves on communist attacks would be launched against Pusan, the last enclave of freedom in the Korean peninsula. -
Period: to
Battle in Inchon/General MacAurthur's Amphibious Landing
This location had been criticized as too risky but MacAurthur planned on continuing. The UN force was then able to break North Korean supply lines and push inland to recapture Seoul, the South Korean capital that fell to the communists in June. -
China enters the Korean war
UN forces began to encounter Chinese soldiers in late October, 1950. The Chinese government insisted that these forces were volunteers. In November at least 200,000 struck at the UN forces, while an even larger force was ready to strike. -
President Eisenhower visits Korea, fulfilling his campaign promise
Eisenhower thought he might find the key to ending the war. Eisenhower stated that if he were elected, he would personally go to Korea. After being elected Eisenhower fulfilled his campaign promise. -
Cease-fire is signed
This was signed by North Korea and Chinese military leaders on one side and U.S-led United Nations command on the other. Cease-fire has never been replaced by a formal peace treaty. -
Korean War is offically over
The U.S, the people's republic of China, North Korea, and South Korea agree on an armistice, ending the Korean War. It is said that the war never offically ended.
