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Japanese Rule
Japan ruled directly through the military and any Korean dissent was crushed -
38th Parallel
When WWII ended Korea was divided into two by North Korea being communists and South Korea being anti-communist at a place called the 38th Parallel. This made Russia control North Korea and South Korea be controlled by the United Nations. -
Non-Free Elections / Communist North
The Soviet Union's response to South Korea being controlled by the United Nation was to establish a communist regime (Democratic People's Republic of North Korea). Both governments had claimed sovereignty over all of Korea. -
North Korea Invasion
North Korea invades South Korea with the permission of Russia. South Korea doesn't have enough of an army to stop them from pursuing on to the capital of Seoul. -
Inchou
U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur - commander of the U.N. forces - makes a bold military move and lands an amphibious invasion force of 80,000 Marines at the port of Inchon near Seoul. The tactical move cuts off North Korean troops, while U.N. forces break out of the Pusan perimeter. -
Pyongyang Captured
U.N. forces capture the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, which sits 90 miles northwest of the 38th Parallel. -
Chinese 1st phase
MacArthur continues to sweep confidently onward, his U.N. forces pushing North Korean troops up to the Yalu River - the water border with China. Some U.N. forces actually reach the river, where they are attacked by small groups of Chinese communist soldiers. -
Seoul Falls (again)
As U.N. troops continue to retreat back across the 38th Parallel, the North Korean army recaptures Seoul. The Chinese-North Korean army is stopped by U.N. troops 30 miles south of Seoul and begin a counteroffensive by the end of January. -
MacArthur Dissmissed
Because of their disagreement in how to militarily handle the Korean War, President Truman recalls MacArthur as commander of the U.N. forces, and U.S. Gen. Matthew Ridgeway is given command. -
Truce
Truce talks begin at Kaesong near the 38th Parallel. The talks, led by U.S. Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy for the U.N. side and Lt. Gen. Nam Il of North Korea, drag on with no real agreements on an armistice and exchange of prisoners. The truce site is moved to the village of Panmunjom. -
U.S Bombing North Korea
Talks at Panmunjom deadlock and are recessed. U.S. planes bomb the North Korean capital Pyongyang for two straight months. Talks are resumed the following March. -
Armstice
The U.N., North Korea and China sign an armistice agreement, continuing the division of Korea. South Korea refuses to sign. The agreement calls for a 2.5-mile-wide buffer zone across the middle of the Korean Peninsula that closely follows the 38th Parallel.
