Korean War Notes

A Divided Korea

• Prior to WWII, Korea was occupied by China and Japan.
• After WWII, Korea was divided into North and South Korea along the 38th parallel.
• South Korea aligned with the US, while North Korea sided with Russia.

Steps to War

• Both parts of the country wanted to reunify the whole nation under their own control.
  • The North wanted reunification under Communist rule.
  • The South wanted reunification under Democratic rule.
• The US wanted the whole country to be democratic.
• The USSR (Russia) wanted the whole country to be communist.

Preparing for War

• By 1950, the North Korean army had the full backing of Stalin, who provided them with modern military equipment.
• June 25, 1950: North Korea invaded South Korea across the 38th parallel with:
  • 150 Russian tanks
  • 40 fighter planes
  • 70 bombers
• The South was far less prepared for an attack, possessing only:
  • 40 tanks
  • 12 fighter planes

Quick Successes

• With a far superior military force, the North Korean military quickly overran the South and occupied the South Korean capital, Seoul.
• It appeared as though the war was ending and Korea would be reunified under Communist rule.
• The US, with UN support, intervened and counterattacked at the last moment.

Americans Attack

• American forces stationed in Japan were deployed to Korea to push the North Koreans back.
• It was an international effort through the UN, in which Canada was involved.
• Even with the extra help, it took a lot of fighting to push the North Koreans back.
• American bombing of North Korean supply lines greatly weakened the North.

The War Ends

• Once the Americans entered the war, there was little territory change due to a military stalemate.
• Peace negotiations lasted for 2 years.
• Both sides finally agreed to re-establish the 38th parallel as a boundary.
• A Demilitarized Zone was created along the 38th parallel.