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Separation at the 38th Parallel
In August of 1945 Japan surrendered to the Allied forces. Along with this surrender came the ceding of all their territories, including Korea. In order to prevent conflict with the USSR, Allied forces made the decision to divide Korea at roughly the 38th Parallel North, giving the USSR influence over the North while the Allies maintained influence on the South. -
Kim Il-Sung Made Leader
In December of 1945 Moscow made Kim Il-Sung, a Communist Party member and former Japanese Liberation Fighter, the leader of the Communist Party of North Korea. -
Election of President Rhee and Creation of Republic of Korea
In July of 1948 the South Korean people elected Syngman Rhee to be their president, and shortly thereafter named their new nation the Republic of Korea -
6-2-5 War
On June 25, 1950 North Korean forces crossed the 38th Parallel and declared war on the forces of South Korea. South Koreans call this date '육이오 전쟁' which means '6-2-5 War' for 'June 25th'. -
UN Joins the Conflict
Upon the declaration of war, the United Nations and twenty-one partnering nations joined the war effort. -
Busan Perimeter
In the two months following the start of hostilities, the South Korean and UN forces suffered devastating losses and were pushed all the way to the Southeastern most corner of the Korean Peninsula, were they managed to hold their ground for months. -
Operation Chromite
In order to relieve the surrounded forces in the South, General Douglas MacArthur launched a daring amphibious invasion near the capitol of Seoul at a city called Incheon (then 'Inchon'). This assault, 'Operation Chromite', was a huge success and enabled UN Forces to link up and push into North Korea. -
Chinese enter the War
On the 25th of October, Moscow gave the Chinese government permission to enter the War in Korea. China promptly deployed hundreds of thousands of troops, which turned the tide back in the favor of the North Korean forces. -
Yalu River
The UN Forces pushed the North Korean military all the way to the Yalu River, which is near the North Korean/Chinese border. Due to diplomatic issues, they were not able to continue the invasion into China. When Chinese forces joined the war in October, it began a nearly year-long retreat by the UN Forces -
Massacres on Both Sides
Massacres occurred on both sides of the war. The North Korean forces slaughtered their way across the South, and in retaliation the South systematically executed anyone accused of having communist or 'leftist' views. -
Flirting with the 38th Parallel
Following the push out of North Korea, the war moved to the central portion of Korea near the 38th Parallel where it all began. Gains and losses occurred for both sides, and the city of Seoul changed hands four times during this period. -
Stalemate of War
Despite the frantic activity and passing of hands that took place during the first months of the War, the remaining years were tedious, deadlocked conflicts in which little was lost or gained; save human lives. Multiple large-scale battles broke out during these years, but none resulted in significant strategic gains for either side. -
Armistice: War Eternal
In July of 1953, UN and North Korean forces came to a cease-fire in an armistice agreement. However, actual peace talks were never successful, and to this day their is still an actively declared war between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the North and the Republic of Korea to the South. Exchanges of fire are rare, but tensions have remained high for more than sixty years. -
Clashes at the DMZ
For the next few decades altercations occasionally broke out between North and South Korea, particularly at the DMZ. Boats were sank, assassination squads were deployed, American GIs were killed with axes, and other horrific incidents. While events continue into moderns day with the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan and the shelling of YP Island, the events are much more rare. -
An Overdue Return
After more than 60 years, the remains of PFC Daniel Hunt, a soldier who went Missing in Action in Korea in 1951, have been found and returned to his family in Arizona. There they were awarded a proper burial.
