korea

National Security Council Report 68 (NSC-68)

A report that presented four strategic options for US foreign policy regarding Soviet expansion in the early Cold War.

38th Parallel

The line that divided Korea into North Korea, occupied by the USSR, and South Korea, occupied by the US, after WWII.

Rollback

A strategy proposed by General MacArthur aiming to destroy communism entirely in North Korea.

Inchon Landing

A high-risk amphibious operation conducted by MacArthur in September 1950 to recapture Seoul.

Pusan Perimeter

The defensive line established by UN forces in the far south of Korea during the North Korean invasion.

Operation Big Switch

The exchange of prisoners of war that occurred in September 1953, where 77,000 communist fighters were swapped for 12,700 UN troops.

Ceasefire

An agreement to stop fighting, which ended the Korean War on July 27, 1953.

Human Cost of the Korean War

Approximately 3,000,000 civilian casualties with significant combat deaths reported from China, North Korea, South Korea, and the USA.

Mao Zedong

The leader of the Chinese Communist Party who won the Chinese Civil War in 1949.

Douglas MacArthur

The General who led the UN coalition forces in the Korean War and pushed for a strategy of rollback against communism.

Chinese Intervention

The deployment of 500,000 Chinese troops in November 1950 in response to UN forces approaching the Yalu River.

Stalemate

The phase of the Korean War where front lines stabilized near the 38th Parallel and peace talks commenced.

USSR nuclear capability

The successful testing of the USSR's first nuclear weapon in 1949, impacting global power dynamics during the Cold War.

Truman's foreign policy review

Initiated in January 1950, following the global expansion of communism, leading to a shift in US strategy.

Isolationism

A strategic option considered by Truman which involved retreating to a 'fortress USA' stance against foreign conflicts.